What Should I Do If an Insurance Company Denies My Car Accident Injury Claim?
Car accidents are traumatic for anyone involved, especially when injuries result, and you face a long road of treatment and rehabilitation to recover. Unfortunately, this often isn’t the end of your headaches. Dealing with insurance companies to get the compensation you deserve can be a nightmare, because insurers have teams of employees looking out for their bottom line and trying to reduce or deny your claim whenever possible. Let’s look at the process insurance companies use to process claims, what to expect, and how a California car accident attorney can help protect you and your claim for compensation.
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Insurance Company Claims Process
Once you make a claim, your insurance company initially assigns an adjuster to your claim. That adjustor performs several functions to determine the validity and value of your claim, including:
- Reviewing the accident report,
- Taking statements from all drivers,
- Analyzing the extent of your injuries, and
- Reviewing medical bills and evidence of other damages.
Because insurance companies try to reduce and deny claims, adjustors will look for prior existing conditions to prove the accident didn’t cause your injury or evidence you were partly or completely at fault for the accident. Adjustors may also decide your injuries aren’t as bad as you claim, even disagreeing with medical findings. This often makes negotiating with insurance companies for a fair settlement an uphill battle.
How Long Does the Claim Process Take?
It takes time to resolve a claim, but how much time depends on a number of factors. Insurance companies want to settle claims quickly – if they can get a favorable result for themselves. Otherwise they may try to stall and delay until you are desperate and take any offer you can get. Claims usually take weeks or months to complete and can be a stressful time for you. An experienced California car accident attorney can negotiate on your behalf, streamline the process, and take your case to court if the insurer refuses to offer a fair settlement.
What to Do If Your Claim is Denied
If the insurer offers a low settlement or denies your claim completely, it’s important you remember an important way to protect your right to legal action. Do not cash a settlement check or sign a release or any other paperwork before speaking with a lawyer. Let an attorney review the accident details and negotiate with the insurance company. Sometimes expert testimony and additional documentation are needed to prove the extent of your damages, the cause of the accident, or another driver’s negligence.
Speak to an Attorney
If you’ve been injured in a car accident, you know how difficult working with insurance companies can be. Before you speak to anyone, sign anything, or forfeit your rights, contact the skilled California Car Accident Attorneys at Daneshrad Law today to make sure your best interests and potential for maximum possible compensation are being protected. Attorney Alan Daneshrad spent years delivering aggressive, skillful representation for victims and recovering millions in damages for their injuries. Call us 24/7 at (888) 881-3529 to schedule a free initial case consultation. Let us evaluate your case, answer your questions, and help you deal with the insurance companies to get the compensation you deserve for your injuries. We will use our knowledge and resources to get the best possible results for you in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, and throughout California.
(*For Informational purposes only. Not intended as legal advice)
