However, if you’re ever in an accident or need to make a claim, it suddenly becomes the most important thing to take care of. But what mistakes can lead to the rejection of your claim? Read on to know about eight reasons your car claim may be denied and what to do.
You Forgot To Pay Your Premium
Your car insurance policy is a contract between you and the insurer. You agree to pay the premium in exchange for coverage. If you don’t make your payments on time, the insurer has every right to cancel your policy or deny claims made under it. This is true even if the reason for the claim has nothing to do with your failure to pay.
The best way to avoid this is to always pay your premiums on time. If you can’t afford the full amount, reach out to your insurer and see if you can make partial payments or set up a payment plan.
The Statute Of Limitations Has Expired
You can file a car insurance claim in a limited time frame. This is known as the statute of limitations and differs from state to state. Make sure you’re aware of the time frame in your state, so you don’t miss the deadline.
If you’re even slightly unsure whether you fall within the statute of limitations, speak with an attorney specialising in car insurance claims. They will be able to tell you for sure and help guide you through the process if need be. Or click here to learn how to appeal your denied insurance.
Your Policy Doesn’t Cover The Accident
Not all accidents are the same, and neither are insurance policies. There are many different types of coverage, which can make things confusing. Do you have comprehensive coverage? Or collision coverage? What’s the difference between the two?
If you’re unsure what accidents are covered under your policy, give your insurer a call and ask. It’s also a good idea to review your policy periodically so you know exactly what is and isn’t included. This way, there will be no surprises down the road.
Your Damages Weren’t Caused By The Accident
Just because you were in an accident doesn’t mean your insurer will cover all damages. If it can be proven that the damages weren’t caused by accident, they may not be covered. For example, suppose you have an outdated system. In that case, any damage sustained in an accident may be attributed to wear and tear rather than the collision itself.
Take pictures of the damage as soon as possible after the accident. This will help show that the damage was, in fact, caused by accident and not pre-existing.
You Waited Too Long To File Your Claim
It’s important to file your car insurance claim as soon as possible after the accident. The longer you wait, the more difficult it will be to prove that the damages were caused by the accident and not something else.
You Didn’t See A Doctor Right Away
If you’re injured in an accident, you must see a doctor as soon as possible. Not only is it important for your health, but it will also help support your claim. The insurer may deny your claim if you don’t have medical records to back it up.
Even if you don’t feel like you need to see a doctor, it’s still a good idea to go. Many times, injuries sustained in an accident aren’t immediately apparent. By getting a full check-up, you’ll have the documentation you need should you start feeling pain or other symptoms down the road.
You Didn’t Cooperate With The Insurance Company
After an accident, the insurance company will likely request certain information and documents from you. You must cooperate and provide them with everything they ask for. If you don’t, they may deny your claim. When the insurance company asks for something, give it to them as soon as possible. The sooner you provide them with what they need, the sooner they can process your claim.
Your Claim Wasn’t Supported By Evidence
When you file a car insurance claim, you must prove that the damages were caused by the accident and not something else. This is typically done by providing evidence in the form of photos, medical records, police reports, and eyewitness testimony.
Final Word
If your car insurance claim is denied, don’t despair. There are many reasons why claims are denied, but that doesn’t mean you can’t appeal the decision. If you have questions about your particular situation, speak with an attorney specialising in car insurance claims. They will certainly help you out.
According to recent statistics, about 264 million vehicles hit the road annually in the US. Moreover, there are more than 210 million registered drivers, making the country’s roads some of the busiest. Despite introducing new and advanced safety features in cars, about six million car accidents take place on American roads each year.
Most of the victims file personal injury claims, and insurance carriers pay out billions of dollars annually. If you have been involved in an auto accident, you may want to know how much compensation you can get from your insurance firm.
Although there’s no specific amount payable after a car accident, understanding how insurance firms calculate settlements can help you estimate how much money you’re entitled to. Some companies use software for calculations. See more information about factors that could affect your settlement to make sure you are well-prepared before diving into a personal injury claim.
The Type of Insurance Policy
An insurance provider will determine the settlement based on the specific type of policy each driver holds, and their maximum limits. For example, in some jurisdictions, drivers must have minimum coverage that includes $5,000 for damages to other vehicles, and $15,000 for injuries or death of a person during an accident.
In some areas, you can choose between full tort and limited tort. On one hand, the latter offers policyholders the possibility to file claims for economic and non-economic damages, irrespective of the severity of the injuries. On the other hand, for limited tort, drivers can save money on their premiums.
Nevertheless, drivers must waive their rights to claim damages such as pain and suffering, unless their injuries are considered serious. The injured parties can still file claims against the other drivers, or they can file third-party claims against their insurance firm for monetary damages. There are limitations on non-economic damages as well, including whether the driver who caused the accident was impaired.
Your Current and Future Medical Expenses
If it’s clear that if liability is on the other driver’s part, their auto insurance firm is likely to offer a quick but small settlement before evaluating the full extent of the injuries you have incurred. Why should you be concerned about that? Well, no policyholder can tell how damaging the injuries will be or how much money they will spend on future treatment in the immediate aftermath of a car accident.
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In some cases, other medical complications could develop from current injuries. Ideally, an insurance company should rely on experts who understand the injuries in order to determine the costs of any future treatments. For example, the settlement may include expenses such as medications and ambulance health care services.
Reimbursement for Out-of-Pocket Expenses
The recovery process includes a lot of expenses. Your settlement may include costs such as hiring a car while yours is being repaired, transportation costs to and from medical facilities, and hiring someone to perform household chores you may not be able to perform because of your injuries. In order to get compensation, you must keep copies of all the bills and explain why they’re important.
The Impact of the Accident on Your Life
The settlement may include non-economic damages if the victims have full tort coverage and/or limited tort coverage in some cases. This refers to compensation for damages that affect your well-being and ability to engage in various activities you used to participate in before the occurrence of the accident. It’s difficult to determine the fair value for such damages.
Non-economic damages include pain and suffering. Generally, an insurer is likely to ask you to prove that your pain and suffering are up to the degree that you claim. Unlike medical bills, proving pain and suffering may require more than just receipts. For example, you will need to have official statements from medical professionals showing the costs of the ongoing treatment and an estimated recovery period.
This investigation is conducted to see whether you were actually hurt at work or are attempting to use the company's insurance policy to collect money.
Being investigated may seem like a complete invasion of privacy, but the investigation is completely legal in some states. You won't automatically be under investigation if you're injured at work, but in cases, your employer will hire someone to discreetly observe you if it is believed that you may be faking, exaggerating, or malingering your injury. Malingering refers to drawing out your healing time so you can receive additional benefits or avoid returning to work.
In some instances, the investigator can take your actions out of context and present the information to your employer to reduce your settlement amount. For example, if you hurt your back at work, the investigator may submit a photo of you playing catch with your children or picking up your baby. This will make it seem that you aren't really hurt and can still perform your normal work duties.
Tactics Implemented by Worker' Comp Investigators
Investigators will keep tabs on your actions through:
- Online surveillance
- Video surveillance
- Interviews or other forms of direct communication
- Interviews or conversations with your relatives, friends, or co-workers
Investigators will often watch you when you're outside of your home and in a public space. Technically, since the investigator is not observing you when you're in a private location, the surveillance is legal.
This means the investigators can watch you while you're in your driveway or yard, at the grocery store or a shopping center, or when you're in a public park. Keep in mind that any time you're in a public area where others can see, the investigator is allowed to "see" you as well.
Being investigated may seem like a complete invasion of privacy, but the investigation is completely legal in some states.
More About Investigator Surveillance
The insurance company representing your place of work can also conduct online surveillance. This means the investigator may be watching to see what you post on social media or in chat rooms.
If you post anything that gives the impression that you are not truly injured, the investigator can take this evidence to the insurance company. Be careful about what you post, in written or video form, or avoid being on social media altogether until your worker's compensation case is settled.
Investigators may also speak with you in person without revealing their identity or talk to your family and friends. Be mindful of what you say about your work injury since investigators don't have to tell you if they're working on behalf of the insurance company.
The report submitted by the investigator will often be used as a form of evidence at your hearing. Investigators also submit the report to your doctor to verify your physical abilities when you're not at work. This could impact your physician's opinion about providing further treatment.
Does My Case Have to Be Investigated?
Generally, insurance companies may conduct surveillance if it is believed that:
- You've stated that your claim is more severe than it is
- You're pretending to be injured or sick
- You're working more than one job
While you may be offended at the idea of being watched, it's important to note that worker's compensation fraud does happen. So if your employer has any reason to suspect that you're trying to get more money than your case is worth, you'll be put under investigation.
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Even if the case is new and you haven't given your company any reason to suspect fraud, your employer may still appoint an investigator to make sure your claims are legitimate.
Remember that insurance companies don't want to pay out for workers' compensation if they don't have to, and they certainly don't want to award funds to people who are not entitled to them. Workers' compensation fraud impacts the state system for accommodating employees who are truly injured and raises the cost of insurance. This is why companies take worker's comp fraud very seriously.
Are You Under Investigation?
Most of the time, you won't realise you're being watched. Private investigators are discreet, and again, they don't have to reveal their identities. However, there are some signs to look out for.
If you see a car outside of your home that you don't recognise or you realise you're being followed when you're traveling to a public area, you could be under surveillance. If your friends or relatives may have spoken with someone new, this could be a clue as well. Ask your loved ones if anyone has contacted them regarding your work injury.
Protect your rights as an injured worker with the help of a worker's compensation attorney. It's best to contact an attorney as soon as you can when you're injured on the job. Your lawyer will carefully investigate every detail of your case so you'll know exactly what you're entitled to in a settlement.
