After a car accident, you will understandably want an insurance company to pay for your losses and damages while you recover. Unfortunately, your insurance claim may be denied, making it difficult for you to recuperate from the crash. In the event that this happens to you, it’s vital to understand the exact reason for the denial. At Belt, Bruner & Barnett, our car wreck lawyers assist many clients who have experienced an insurance claim denial.
The top three reasons for these denials include:
- Avoidable Accidents
If you took an action that caused the accident or you could’ve easily avoided it, your insurance claim may be denied. These types of denials often occur when an insurance company believes that you allowed an unlicensed driver to use your car, drove drunk at the time of the accident, or did something that would make your policy ineffective. If you are denied because the insurer believes that the accident could’ve been avoided, you will be responsible for paying for the damages out-of-pocket.
No Medical Records of Injuries or Pain
Following a car accident, it’s imperative for victims to seek medical treatment immediately. Waiting to visit a doctor may give an insurer a reason to state that there were no injuries that resulted from the accident or the injuries were less severe than claimed. Receiving medical treatment right away is especially important in accidents where whiplash was present as whiplash symptoms typically do not appear until a few days after the accident.
Pre-Existing Conditions
The insurance company may argue that a pre-existing condition rather than the actual accident was the cause of an injury. It can be very difficult to prove exactly what part of the injury was aggravated by the crash and what part of it was pre-existing. For this reason, it’s vital to document all of the medical treatments that you received before and after the accident for pre-existing conditions.
How to Handle An Insurance Claim Denial
If your accident claim has been denied, you must find out why. If the insurance company does not provide you with a reason, you need to get a hold of them and ask for a written explanation that describes why your claim was denied. Once you know why your claim was denied, ask your insurer for written information about their appeals policy so that you know what is necessary to reverse your claim.
Sometimes, insurance companies deny valid claims to avoid expensive settlements and increase their profit margins. Therefore, they don’t always treat their policyholders with the honesty and fairness they deserve. If your insurer fails to investigate your claim, delays the investigation time, or loses paperwork, you may be able to file a legal claim against the insurance company for their negligent behavior.
Contact the Car Accident Lawyers at Belt, Bruner & Barnett for Legal Representation
Insurance law is complicated. Rather than trying to navigate the complexity of your denied claim on your own, consult the car crash attorneys with at Belt, Bruner & Barnett who can help you through the appeals process and ensure that your rights are being protected.
To learn more about how we can help you, call our Montgomery car accident attorneys, Mobile car accident attorneys, Huntsville car accident attorneys, or Birmingham car accident attorneys to learn how they can help you. When you trust our 60 years of combined legal experience with your insurance claim denial, you’ll enjoy the peace of mind of knowing you have aggressive legal representation that may help you obtain a fair recovery.
