The cost of treating serious injuries after a car crash can rapidly add up to thousands of dollars. While you can file a claim against the at-fault driver’s car insurance and seek compensation for your medical bills and other expenses, insurance companies may occasionally deny your claim. An insurance company can deny your claim for various reasons, causing delays before you get the compensation you are entitled to. Here are five common reasons a car accident claim may be denied.
There is a liability dispute
An insurance company might not agree on who is liable to pay the claim if there are questions about which driver caused the accident. This can be a problem if you only have liability coverage since you will likely have to pay for damages out of your own pocket. In such a case, you can hire an Akron Car Accident Lawyer to help you with the claim. You can also get the police report generated at the accident scene to increase your chances of winning the liability dispute.
Not notifying the insurance company in time
It’s your responsibility as a driver to notify your insurance soon after a car accident. For instance, if you are a California resident, you should file a claim within 10 days of a crash if anyone involved was injured or killed. Regardless of whether injuries or fatalities occurred, your insurer might claim it didn’t have enough time to investigate the matter if you fail to notify it within the given timeline.
Failure to get a medical evaluation
Some injuries won’t appear or be felt until days or weeks after a car crash. However, it might be hard to prove that your injuries resulted from the accident if you don’t get an immediate medical evaluation. Your insurance company will only pay for injuries that are well documented, so visit a doctor or physician immediately after the crash. Ensure the hospital staff indicates in your medical record that your injuries were due to the car accident.
Dishonesty
Your car accident claim is tied up to your credibility. Any attempt to overstate or lie about your injuries can hurt your claim as well as the compensation you are entitled to. Insurance agencies will examine your medical records, spy on you, or even hire a private investigator to examine the authenticity of your injuries. Be honest about your injuries, and don’t tie pre-existing conditions to the accident if you have any.
The claim surpasses your maximum insurance coverage
When you file a claim with an insurance company, the money you can get as compensation will depend on your policy limits. Ensure your auto insurance policy matches or exceeds your overall requirements. The claim will be compensated up to the policy limits, but your insurance company might deny it if the damage exceeds your coverage limits. For instance, if the car is worth $100,000 and your coverage is $50,000, the claim could be denied unless you have additional coverage.
Endnote
While most car accident claims are processed and compensated without a hitch, many are denied, some with little to no reason. Consider hiring a lawyer to represent you in the dispute if you have been involved in an accident, and your claim has been wrongly denied.