As a car accident victim in Florida, it is vital to know what happens when insurance companies deny a claim. But, keep in mind that your insurer will not restrict your request without justification.
If your claim gets denied, you will receive a denial letter from your insurer, and it is best to consult a Delray Beach car accident lawyer for your next steps. Before getting into that, let’s look at some of the reasons why your insurance company will deny your car accident claim.
Why Did Your Insurance Company Deny Your Claim?
Insurance companies are profit-minded and will look for every legal and technical loophole available to them to prevent paying victims what’s owed to them. The more claims they deny, the more profits they make. But there are instances when their denial is justified, and it varies depending on your coverage.
Here are some of the instances where Florida car wreck claims are denied.
Your Policy Does Not Cover the Accident
Different accidents fall under separate coverage. In Florida, the available insurance policies for car collisions are:
- Personal Damage Liability (PDL)
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
- Bodily Injury Liability (BIL)
- Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist (UM)
- Collision Versus Comprehensive
If your insurance coverage is under one of the policies, then you are entitled to receive compensation. But if you do not have any of the above, then your insurer will be right not to pay you any benefit.
Note that whether your accident falls under any of the policies is a judgment call by the insurer. When insurance companies decide that you can’t get paid under any coverage, you can dispute their decision with a Delray Beach auto accident attorney’s help.
The Other Driver Had No Insurance, and You Don’t Have an Uninsured Motorist Coverage
The first thing to know is that in Florida, you need to have Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage for accidents that are not your fault. If you suffer a crash due to another person’s negligence, and the at-fault driver does not have an insurance policy, your insurer will not pay for the damages suffered. The only way your insurance company will cover the loss is if you have uninsured motorist coverage.
You Drove Under the Influence at the Time of the Crash
This is one of the most common reasons why your insurer will deny your compensation claim. Once there is proof that you were under the influence when the accident happened, the insurer will interpret it to mean you purposely caused the crash. Thus, when you apply for Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits, you won’t get them.
Your Damages Exceed Your Coverage
Florida law allows drivers to have only $10,000 policies that aren’t enough to cover most vehicular damages and physical injuries. Your insurance company will deny claims for damages beyond what your policy covers.
In such instances, your insurer will pay you only what it owes and not a penny more. If they fail to do the preceding, you can enlist a Delray Beach personal injury lawyer’s help to get your benefits.
You Missed Deadlines
Insurance companies have strict requirements for the number of days you have to file a claim for benefits. Once you miss the deadline, your insurer will not entertain your request for compensation. The only way to avoid this is by bringing your claim in a timely manner.
You Made False or Misleading Statements
It’s better to stick with the truth when claiming benefits. Your insurer will always investigate your version of the facts before paying you. A little deviation from the way things happened or the extent of your injuries could lead to outright denial.
You Failed to Pay Your Premiums
Insurance companies are not charity organizations. The money they pay to you is only to the extent of what you put in. Thus, failing to pay your premiums means they will deny your claim, as you had no coverage with them when the accident happened.
What Happens When Insurance Denies Your Car Accident Claim?
With everything we’ve discussed so far, it is evident that a claim denial means you won’t get any benefit from the insurer. But if the refusal does not come under any of the instances discussed above, you can file an appeal using an auto accident attorney in Delray Beach. The lawyer will examine why your insurer failed to pay and take the necessary legal actions.
Did Your Insurance Claim Get Denied? Contact Our Car Accident Lawyer Today!
Our team of experienced auto accident attorneys at Steinberg Law is ready and willing to review your case and get you the compensation you deserve. Schedule a free consultation with us today.
