When you have been in a car accident, there are a lot of things you need to deal with. One is filing an insurance claim for damage done to your vehicle and any injuries sustained by the crash.
Unfortunately, insurance companies do not approve every claim they receive, and there are various reasons for these denials. If your insurance denies your claim, there are a couple actions you can take.
Common reasons for claim denials
According to Smart Business Daily, one common reason for denial is that there is no coverage for the damage or injuries. Companies also deny coverage if they deem the driver was at fault for the accident or engaged in a non-covered behavior.
If there is an injury claim, an insurance company may deny the claim if the injured party did not receive medical treatment for the injury, if there were pre-existing injuries or if there was not enough evidence that the accident was the cause of the injuries.
Unfortunately, sometimes there is a claim denial due to bad faith on the part of the insurance company. This includes refusing to pay even when there is clear liability and evidence, when there is no plausible reason given for the denial and when there is inadequate investigation into the claim.
Options for dealing with a denial
After an initial denial, there are steps a claimant can take to appeal the denial. The reason for the denial should be in the letter, making it easier to provide evidence during the appeal. FindLaw also discusses that a party may take legal action against the insurance company if it does not act in good faith or follow the terms of the policy.