Handling a Denied Car Accident Insurance Claim

Posted on behalf of Lynch Law Firm on Jul 18, 2019  in Car Accidents News

After an accident, you might have done everything right: you reported the accident to the authorities and filed a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company. But then you get the news that your claim has been denied. You may think that is the end of the road for you and may accept the denial. However, many insurance claims are initially rejected, which means that accident victims may still be able to recover compensation for their injuries by fighting the denial.

A knowledgeable New Jersey car accident lawyer from our firm may help you through this process by explaining why your claim may have been denied and working on appealing this decision. Contact us to learn more about your legal options during a risk-free consultation.

Reasons Insurance Companies Deny Car Accident Claims 

Insurance companies stay in business by ensuring that the amount they bring in premiums exceeds the amount they pay out in claims. Therefore, insurance adjusters are incentivized to deny claims as much as possible. They think that many people will not challenge this denial so they look for any reason to deny the claim. Common reasons for a claim denial include the following:

Accident Was Preventable or Not Quickly Reported

The insurance adjuster may deny the claim if you could have avoided the accident or claims that you did something that helped cause the accident. Additionally, if you do not promptly report the accident to law enforcement or make a claim quickly, the insurance adjuster may doubt the truthfulness of the claim.

Delay in Medical Care

After a car accident, you may not realize the full extent of your injuries. You may feel a surge of adrenaline that masks the symptoms of an injury. If you wait to seek treatment for your injuries, the insurance company may deny your claim altogether. The adjuster may claim that the injury was pre-existing or that your condition was worsened by not seeking prompt medical care.

It is important that you seek medical treatment right after an accident to avoid the adjuster making a denial on this basis. If you sought medical treatment immediately after the accident and have the proof to show it, you will have a stronger case.

Damages Exceed Policy Limits

In other situations, your claim may be denied because the damages exceed policy limits. Every insurance contract only covers damages up to a certain limit. If your damages exceed the limits, the insurance company can only pay up to the limits. A lawyer may review if there is other insurance coverage that can help cover your damages or other parties that contributed to the accident.

Driver Not Listed on Policy

Sometimes, claims are denied because the driver who was responsible for the accident was not listed on the policy. He or she may be excluded from coverage. A lawyer may review the contract that applies to your case and see whether the accident should be covered under the policy.

Driving Illegally or Negligently

If you drove in a way that violated state law, the claim may be denied. Some examples include:

• You were drinking and driving
• You drove without a license
• You drove without insurance

How to Fight a Claims Dispute

If your claim was wrongly denied, the best thing you can do is to contact an experienced lawyer. He or she can review your options, such as asking the insurance company to reconsider based on new information or filing a complaint against the insurance company if it is acting in bad faith.  

Contact Us for More Information

When your insurance claim is denied, it is important that you have legal support. An experienced personal injury lawyer from the Lynch Law Firm may handle negotiations with the insurance company, review the reason for your denial and ask the insurance adjuster for reconsideration. 

The attorneys at Lynch Law Firm work on a contingency fee basis, which means there are no upfront costs involved for our legal services unless you obtain adequate compensation for your case.

Schedule a free, no-obligation case evaluation by calling (800) 518-0508 today.