If you’re involved in a car accident and the other driver is at fault, you deserve to be compensated for your injuries. The best way for that to happen is for their insurance carrier to pay your claim. However, there are times when the insurance company won’t pay your claim. If this happens, you need to call and speak with an experienced Miami accident attorney.
Your Miami Car Accident Lawyer Can Make Sure Your Insurance Claim Is Filed Properly
It may seem easy to file an insurance claim. However, if you’ve ever had to do it, you know it’s a lot more complicated than people think.
It’s Important That Your Claim Be Filed on Time
One of the tricky things about filing an auto insurance claim is that you’re not really sure when it’s due. Insurance policies often state that your claim must be filed within a “reasonable” period of time.
Many insurance carriers do this on purpose. This automatically gives them an easy excuse to deny your claim. All they have to say is that it wasn’t filed on time.
If you meet with your Miami injury lawyer immediately after the crash, they can get your claim filed within a matter of days.
Your Attorney Will Ensure You Have All the Necessary Documentation
When you submit your claim, it’s important that you include all the required information. Every insurance policy is different so your Miami accident attorney will need to review a copy of your policy.
Typically, you have to send the insurance company a copy of the police report. You’ll also have to provide them with a statement as to what happened. They’ll probably demand more information as the claim is processed. You want to make sure you keep up with these requests or your claim could be denied.
What Happens if Your Insurance Claim Is Denied?
If your claim is denied, you’ll have several options. If the insurance adjuster only approves a partial payment, you can accept it and move on. Or, if you didn’t think the claim would be approved, you can choose not to pursue the matter further.
In most of the cases our Miami car accident lawyers handle, the clients want to appeal the claim. Your attorney will file an appeal and provide the insurance carrier with any additional information that will help prove your claim.
If the claim is approved, you should see payment within a week or two. If, however, your claim is still denied, your Miami accident attorney can file suit on your behalf.
Your Miami Accident Attorney Will Find Out Why It Was Denied
If you don’t have a letter of denial explaining why your claim wasn’t paid, that’s okay. The insurance company is legally required to provide this to you. If you don’t have it for some reason, your Miami accident attorney can request another copy.
The reason for denial will determine the approach your Miami injury lawyer takes. It will also dictate what kind of information or evidence your lawyer needs to win the appeal.
What Are the Most Common Reasons the Insurance Company Will Deny Your Claim?
There are certain reasons why auto insurance carriers deny certain claims and pay others. One general rule is that insurance companies will pay smaller claims. They aren’t about to spend more money to fight the claim than it would cost to pay it.
In our experience, some of the common reasons why your accident claim would be denied include:
- The policy was invalid or had been canceled for non-payment.
- The insurance adjuster thinks you caused the crash.
- You didn’t go to the hospital so there is no proof of your injuries.
- You have a history of filing auto insurance claims.
- You didn’t submit the necessary information.
Whatever the reason is, your Miami accident attorney will have to gather the necessary evidence to overcome the reason for denial.
The Defendant’s Lawyers May Say That You’re Exaggerating Your Injuries
There’s a chance the insurance adjuster will think you’re exaggerating your injuries. If your complaint lists damages for injuries that aren’t listed on your medical records, this can happen.
What your Miami accident attorney will have to do is talk to your doctors and find out what your prognosis is. They can also submit copies of any bills paid and explanation of benefit forms.
Often, an Insurance Company Will Deny Larger Claims
Most insurance companies will deny very large claims. They know that there’s a good chance they’ll be able to settle for much less than the full demand. They also figure that, even if they lose at trial, they won’t be ordered to pay any more than what the full claim would cost.
The good news is that, even if your claim is large, your Miami injury lawyer will try to settle it. In fact, more than 95% of all personal injury cases settle long before trial.
All You Have to Do is Contact an Experienced Miami Injury Lawyer Today
If you were involved in an accident and the insurance company denied your claim, you need help. While you can certainly file your own claim, you don’t want to be at a disadvantage. An experienced Miami injury lawyer can negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf and make sure your claim is handled properly from the start.
We suggest that you call our office sooner rather than later. You don’t want the insurance company to deny your claim, thinking you’ll walk away. Once they learn you have a Miami accident attorney, they’ll take your claim more seriously.
All you have to do is call our office at 754-799-7321 and schedule your free, initial consultation. Take the time to sit down with someone who knows the law and knows how insurance carriers work.
