You were hurt in a car accident that you know was the other driver’s fault, but your insurance claim was still denied. It can be a hopeless feeling—but it doesn’t mean you should give up on recovering the money you need to pay for your costs.
It’s important to remember that insurance companies are trying to reduce their costs as much as possible, and they may dispute your claim or deny it altogether—even if you know an accident wasn’t your fault. Here’s what you should know about why insurance claims get denied and what your next steps should be.
Five Reasons an Insurance Claim Might Get Denied
The truth is, there are a number of reasons why the other driver’s insurance company might deny your car accident or other personal injury claim. Those reasons may include the following.
1. They believe your claim lacks enough information or proof.
Even if you did everything you were supposed to after the accident, such as taking pictures of the scene and calling police, the insurer may still determine your claim lacks enough information to demonstrate the other driver’s fault or validity of your damages. They might believe their client’s version of what happened over yours or be relying on eyewitness testimony, especially if a police report is not available on the accident.
2. They hope you will accept the denial and cease pursuing the claim further.
Insurance companies don’t want to pay out a lot of money, so they aren’t above finding reasons to encourage you to drop the claim altogether. They’re hoping you’ll accept the denial and leave them alone—but just as you should never take the first settlement offer, never accept a claim denial without pursuing the case further. Chances are, there are ways you can strengthen your case and fight for the recovery you deserve.
3. The insurance company wasn’t notified in time.
Most insurance policies will include how soon you must report an accident after it happens in order to receive coverage. If the accident was reported after that timeframe, the insurer may deny responsibility for coverage.
4. The other driver let their insurance lapse.
If the other driver failed to pay their insurance premiums on time, the policy could have lapsed and the insurance company may claim the accident was not covered.
5. The insurer is relying policy exclusions.
Some insurance policies will exclude “acts of God” like hail storms, earthquakes, or other natural disasters, from coverage. The insurer could dispute your claim if they believe the accident was caused by a policy exclusion instead of the other driver’s negligence.
Insurance Claim Denied? Here’s What You Can Do
How you approach an “insurance claim denied” response depends on the reason for the denial. Find out from the other driver’s insurer why they rejected your claim so you can figure out your best response. If the insurer is claiming you didn’t provide enough information to support your claim, you might need to provide more documentation of your injuries from the accident, including medical bills, doctor reports, and pictures or accounts of your injuries.
If the insurance company is claiming the accident wasn’t covered due to a policy lapse, you’ll likely need to rely on uninsured motorist coverage, which is likely included in your own car insurance policy.
In any case, when an insurance claim is denied, it’s in your best interest to hire an experienced car accident lawyer to fight the insurance denial. They can examine details of the denial and determine why it happened. Then, they’ll get to work building a strong case to demonstrate both your damages and the other driver’s fault in the accident. An attorney will know how to put together a claim that is often taken more seriously by the insurer.
Talk to a Car Accident Lawyer About Your Insurance Claim for Free
If our insurance claim was denied after an accident that wasn’t your fault, don’t give up! Chances are, you just need a legal eye on the situation. Our attorneys know what insurance companies are look for when they examine claims, and we can help you figure out what needs to be adjusted for your best chance at FULL financial recovery. We’ll start with a FREE consultation where we can discuss the details of your case and your best options. Call us today at (404) 341-6555, or fill out the form to the right for your free consultation.
