When you file your initial auto insurance claim, you can’t imagine that it would be denied. After all, if the other driver was at fault, they should pay to get your car fixed. They should also be responsible for any medical bills or lost wages you experience.
So, when you get a letter from the insurance company saying they are not paying your auto insurance claim, you’re angry. You’re beyond angry. Why bother paying for insurance your whole adult life if they aren’t there for you when you need them? The first thing you need to do is calm down. The second thing you need to do is call an experienced auto accident lawyer in South Fulton.
Here, we’ll discuss the various reasons the insurance company may have denied your claim. We will also explain what your South Fulton, Georgia injury lawyer can do to help you. At the end of the day, the person responsible for the crash needs to pay. If that was the other driver, then their insurance carrier needs to step up. If they refuse to pay your auto insurance claim, even after your attorney files an appeal, you have one option. You need to file suit against the other driver, along with their insurance carrier.
Did You File Your Auto Insurance Claim on Time?
One of the reasons the insurance company may have denied your claim is if it wasn’t filed in time. Trying to figure out how long you have to file your auto insurance claim can be difficult. Most insurance policies don’t come right out and say exactly how long you have. Instead, they use language like a “reasonable time.” This can often cause more confusion.
It would be easier if the policy just stated that you have “x” number of days from the date of the crash to file your auto insurance claim. If that were the case, there would be fewer claims denied for untimely filing.
Did You Submit All the Necessary Paperwork?
Another reason why your auto insurance claim may have been denied is if you didn’t submit all the necessary documentation. For example, your policy may require that you include a copy of the police report. If you never got a report, then you obviously wouldn’t have sent it in as required. Or you may have forgotten to include a copy of your mechanic’s bills.
If this is the only reason your auto insurance claim was denied, your South Fulton, Georgia injury lawyer shouldn’t have a difficult time appealing your claim. However, there’s never a guarantee that your auto insurance claim will be approved on appeal.
What Reason Did the Insurance Give for Denying Your Claim?
The easiest thing you can do is give your auto accident lawyer in South Fulton a copy of your denial letter. There will be a specific reason for denial provided in this letter. Sometimes, insurance adjusters don’t spell it out for you. They may put a code in as the reason for denial rather than an actual reason. This is okay. Your attorney will be able to decipher whatever reason they gave. Once you have this information, your lawyer will have a much better idea of how to proceed.
Depending on the Reason, Your South Fulton, Georgia Lawyer Can Help File an Appeal
There are all sorts of reasons why the insurance company may have denied your auto insurance claim. Above, we discussed the clerical reasons why it could’ve been denied. However, there are other, more substantive reasons why they chose not to pay your auto insurance claim. Some of these reasons may include the following:
- The policy was invalid or had recently been canceled for non-payment
- The person who hit you was driving a stolen vehicle at the time of the crash
- They believe you caused the crash
- The insurance adjuster doesn’t believe your injuries are all that serious
- You were issued a ticket at the accident scene
If the policy wasn’t valid, there’s nothing your auto accident lawyer in South Fulton can do to help you. There is no way an insurance company would pay out an auto insurance claim on an invalid policy. For all of the other reasons, however, your attorney may be able to help. Until they’ve had a chance to review your case in detail, they won’t know for sure. This is why you should take advantage of your free, initial consultation.
If Need Be, You Can Always File Suit Against the Other Driver
It’s important to remember that, if all else fails, you can always file suit against the other driver. Of course, your auto accident lawyer in South Fulton will name their insurance company in the complaint as well. This means the insurance company will probably use the same defense in court that they used when they initially denied your auto insurance claim. Thankfully, your attorney will be well prepared to challenge their argument.
You Should Let an Auto Accident Lawyer in South Fulton Review Your Case
If your insurance was denied and you believe it should have been approved, you’re not alone. Very few people expect the insurance carrier to deny their auto insurance claim. After all, if the other person caused the crash, they should be held accountable. It’s only fair. Learning that they have denied your claim can be frustrating. It can be hard to think rationally when this sort of thing happens. That’s why it’s a good idea to let an experienced auto accident lawyer in South Fulton handle things for you.
Sometimes, an objective party can look at your case a bit differently than you do. For example, you may think it’s just bad luck that you’ve been in four accidents in less than three years. However, to the insurance adjuster, it looks like one of two things. Either you’re a terrible driver and, thereby, probably the one who caused this most recent accident. Or you have a habit of suing people, hoping you can get a few thousand dollars. Either way, the insurance company would rather deny your auto insurance claim and force you to prove fault on the part of the other driver.
This is when it’s in your best interest to hire a seasoned South Fulton, Georgia injury lawyer to take the reins. We offer all new clients a free, initial consultation. This gives you a chance to meet with an attorney before you make any final decisions.
