Drivers in Fort Lauderdale, Florida must purchase auto insurance with a minimum amount of coverage to protect themselves and others should they get into a car crash. When a responsible driver becomes injured in a car accident, he or she expects to be able to file a claim for damages through their insurer and receive compensation. Unfortunately, this doesn’t happen as smoothly as many people may think. Often, insurance adjusters deny claims for seemingly no valid reason. If this has happened to you, you should know why and what to do about it.
Why Do Insurance Companies Deny Claims?
There are specific reasons why a person’s insurance company may deny their claim. Some of the most common are:
- Exhaustion of Policy Limits: The type of coverage included in someone’s policy is available on their monthly premium. If a person has a specific cap on what they can collect for personal injury but an accident exceeds that amount, the insurance company will deny their claim.
- Violation of State Law: If a person broke any laws during the time of their accident, the insurance company can deny their claim. Examples of violating state laws including driving under the influence, driving with a suspended license, and speeding.
- Violation of Insurance Policy: There are rules included with every auto insurance policy. For instance, if the policy prohibits using a vehicle for something like ride-sharing, the insurance company could deny the person’s claim.
- Miscellaneous: If the insurance company thinks a claim is fraudulent, they will deny it. Any evidence a person has which proves they had an accident and suffered injuries is beneficial, especially when they file a claim. It’s best to provide this evidence sooner rather than later. The longer you wait to submit documentation for a claim, the higher the chance your insurer will deny your request.
What to Do if Your Insurer Denied Your Legitimate Claim
If a person has ensured that their claim was utterly legitimate, but the insurance company still denied it, the individual can fight the decision. The best thing to do is to file a complaint with the Florida Department of Insurance to appeal the denial. Appealing is the best course of action to take to overturn the insurance company’s decision. However, if the appeal does not go well, then you must contact an attorney and seek compensation through the courts.
An experienced lawyer can effectively negotiate with insurance companies to help you get the compensation you deserve. Contact the Fort Lauderdale car accident lawyers at Salpeter Gitkin, LLP for a free consultation. Call 954-467-8622 or email us a description of your case.
