Are you worried about being denied insurance claims? Your worries might be justified. Insurance companies can avoid paying your claim if you fall into one of these categories.
Read on to discover the most prominent reasons insurance companies use to justify denying a claim.
1. Your Accident was Avoidable
If the state considers your driving either negligent or illegal, your insurance won’t cover your car crash. Examples include:
- Driving without insurance
- Driving without a license
- Driving an unregistered vehicle
- Driving while impaired
These examples are also violations of state law. But your insurance could also drop your claim for other reasons. They look for any actions that led to the accident, specifically actions that were avoidable. If your accident was preventable, they’ll deny your claim.
2. No Evidence of Medical Issues from the Accident
Without a clear line of medical documentation, it’s impossible for insurance companies to determine when or where an injury occurred. For instance, whiplash injuries are notorious for the delayed onset of symptoms. In other words, if you get whiplash from a car crash injury, you may not suffer headaches, dizziness, or pain for weeks.
Seek immediate medical attention after the accident. Your doctor will start a clear paper trail. He might even help you take heed of one of the many injuries that go unnoticed after a traffic accident.
3. Cost Exceeds Policy Limits
Every insurance plan contains different limits and deductibles. If the damage to your car exceeds the limits on your policy, your insurance company will only cover the amount outlined in your policy. You must cover the rest.
If you’re not sure how much your plan covers, speak to your insurance adjuster. If you’re worried that your adjuster is trying to pull the wool over your eyes, then speak to your lawyer. Attorneys, like those at Sweet Lawyers, will take you step-by-step through your plan and clarify any vague language.
4. Policy Doesn’t Cover Driver
Does the insurance policy you bought for your vehicle cover the driver in question? Does your auto insurance cover you if you’re in an accident while driving someone else’s car? The answer to both questions might be no.
Many policies only cover the drivers written into the plan. They don’t cover visiting friends, relatives, or kids who use your vehicle. That’s especially true if your friends or relatives live with you but aren’t on your policy.
5. Pre-Existing Condition Denied Insurance Claims
Now we’re into murky waters. This is when it’s especially important to have a clear and verifiable medical document trail from the time of your accident. You’ll also need a paper trail leading up to the accident.
Pre-existing conditions, such as chronic back pain or migraines muddy the diagnostic waters for your doctor. Just which symptoms originated from the accident and which from before? If you want your insurance company to accept your insurance claim, a clear document trail is paramount.
So, What if You Are?
If you’re denied insurance claims, you only have two forms of recourse. You can try to straighten it out with your insurance. You can seek legal counsel to help you get what you deserve.
If you found this information helpful, bop over to our incredible library full of articles on lifestyle and technology.