Being involved in an accident can put your life on the back foot. You can end up with massive medical bills; you also have to face the destruction of property, which can make it hard for you to cope financially with the situation.
All of these factors can combine to make your life very stressful. Your only hope for getting you out of such tense conditions can be your insurance provider. By signing up for an insurance policy, you buy a sense of security that in your time of need, your insurance provider will come to your aid.
However, if your insurance provider starts to delay your claim, you can feel betrayed. If you are facing such a situation, the following discussion can be of help to you.
- Understand Policy Limits
In order to make an insurance claim, you first have to understand your policy limits. You need to read through your insurance policy to find out what it offers and what protection you have. Once you understand what it offers, you can make a claim accordingly.
There is also the consideration that your policy limits are not absolute, and there can be some wiggle room created through negotiations. However, this wiggle room can be slight, and in order to take advantage of it, you need to comb through your policy limits carefully.
- Identify Red Flags
After you file a claim with your insurance company, it is natural for them to take some time to process your claim. However, there are limits defined by law towards the whole process. If your insurance company is taking too long to process your claim, you can take action.
There can be some signs that can give you an idea that your insurance company is using delaying tactics. If you notice that your calls or emails are going unanswered, you need to take notice of this fact. In addition, if the settlement offer made by your insurance provider is inadequate, it could be a red flag.
Similarly, if you notice misrepresentation of the facts or unexplained delays, you need to voice your concerns.
- Talk to an Attorney
If you notice any of the red flags mentioned above, you should immediately get in touch with an accident attorney. For example, you can get in touch with Barrera Law Group LLC to discuss your concerns.
Attorneys who specialize in the subject of claims relating to accidents and personal injury will be able to guide you through the process. They will be able to provide you with state-specific facts relating to limitation periods surrounding your particular claim.
You will be able to discuss the behavior of your insurance provider with your lawyer, which will help you ascertain what you should do next.
- Cover Your Bases
If you plan on taking action against your insurance provider for delaying your claim, you have to first make sure that all of your bases are covered. You have to make sure that there are no lacunas in your claim and that you have made your claim in accordance with the prescribed method.
You need to make sure that you have attached all the relevant documents to your insurance claim. In addition, you need to ensure that you have responded to every query that your insurance provider has had. By doing so, you will be able to make sure that your insurance provider does not blame you for the delay.
- Record the Correspondence
It is always a good practice to record your correspondence with your insurance provider. Regardless of whether your insurance provider is being cooperative or not, you should always record any correspondence you have with your insurance provider.
By doing so, you will be able to make sure that you are able to provide evidence to support your claim that your insurance provider is delaying your claim unfairly. Similarly, if they try to spin things around on you, you will be able to dig up your correspondence, which will put a stop to their efforts.
By recording your correspondence, you will be able to paint a picture for your attorney, which will help them build a case against your insurance provider.
- Prepare a Timeline
After your accident, you should start preparing a timeline. You should note down all the details of the day your accident took place. Similarly, any progress or major steps that you take in pursuance of your insurance claim, you should make a note of it.
Your priority should be to record your actions with the time and date. This will enable you to keep track of what you have done so far, and if need be, you will be able to dig up things that you might need quickly. Preparing a timeline will also enable you to provide evidence of the delay caused by your insurance provider.
- Involve Regulatory Authorities
There are regulatory authorities in place that keep a check and balance on insurance companies. If your insurance company is delaying your claim far too much, then it might be worth filing a complaint against your insurance provider.
For this purpose, you can either get in touch with the State Insurance Department or the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. You can also invoke the jurisdiction of your local consumer protection agency to file a complaint against your insurance provider.
- File a Lawsuit for Compensation
If all else fails and your claim is still pending, you will be left with no choice other than to file a lawsuit for compensation. By bringing a lawsuit for compensation to the court of law, you will be able to hold your insurance company accountable.
You will be able to argue that your claim is being delayed or denied without cause, and you ought to be compensated. By filing a lawsuit, you will be able to force the hand of your insurance provider. If your insurance provider still does not move towards an amicable settlement, your attorney will move your case to trial.