When you are in a car accident, it can be overwhelming. Even when you are not seriously injured, you must deal with the property damage to your vehicle. You may miss time from work as you obtain a rental vehicle, arrange for repairs to your vehicle, and visit your doctor to determine whether you were injured in the accident. The emotional stress and physical pain after an accident add to the financial losses to create an extremely frustrating situation.
If another driver is responsible for causing the accident, you may be entitled to compensation from that driver for your damages and losses. In most cases, the driver’s insurance company compensates you for your injury claim. However, what happens when the insurance company refuses to pay a claim?
Why Do Insurance Companies Deny Car Accident Claims?
An insurance company is not in business to pay claims. It is in business to make money. Therefore, it is not in the company’s best interest to pay full compensation for each injury claim filed against the company. An insurance company takes steps to limit its liability. Some companies act in bad faith when evaluating and processing injury claims. Other companies simply try to pay as little as possible to settle claims.
Common valid reasons why an insurance company may deny an injury claim include:
- The insurance policy has lapsed.
- The insurance policy did not cover the driver.
- The circumstances related to the accident fall within an exclusion.
- The driver did not cause the automobile accident.
- The victim did not provide adequate evidence proving damages and losses.
Even if an insurance company provides a seemingly valid reason for denying an insurance claim, that does not mean you should give up. You have the right to appeal the insurance company’s decision regarding your injury claim.
What Should You Do If An Insurance Company Does Not Pay?
If an insurance company is refusing to pay your injury claim, offers a very low settlement amount, or is unreasonably delaying your claim, contact our Sacramento car accident attorneys immediately for a free case review. Your time to file a personal injury lawsuit is limited. The insurance company may use delay tactics to exceed the time you have to file a lawsuit. Once the statute of limitations expires, you cannot pursue a legal claim against the insurance company or the driver.
Therefore, it is best to talk to an experienced attorney as soon as possible. An attorney investigates the claim to determine if the reason for denying the injury claim is valid. Also, the attorney investigates the accident to determine if another party may have some liability for your damages.
Dealing with an insurance company can be difficult, especially if you are unsure of your legal rights or the law governing your accident claim. An attorney understands the laws that protect car accident victims in California and how to use those laws to benefit the victim.
Contact Our Sacramento Car Accident Attorney for Help
Do not allow an insurance adjuster to convince you that you do not have a valid accident claim or that your claim is worth much less than you believe to be the value of your claim. Talk to our lawyers to learn the truth about car accident claims in California.
For a free consultation with a Sacramento car accident lawyer, contact The Tiemann Law Firm by calling (916) 999-9000 or by visiting our website. We are here to help you fight for fair compensation for your injuries, financial losses, and damages.
