There has been an accident in Connecticut, and you're involved. Your injuries aren't entirely your fault; someone else is responsible. You may have to miss work as you recover from your injuries, incur substantial medical costs, and pay to fix your car and other damages. Filing a claim with the negligent party's insurance company and collecting damages should be easy, right? Hypothetically, yes. But this is not always the case.
No insurance company will assist you in collecting the compensation you need following an accident. In fact, they will take all necessary steps to either deny or reduce your payout altogether. Even if you have a legitimate claim, they will attempt to deny your claim if they find any way to do so.
We will offer some insight into why an insurance company will deny a car accident claim. This information can help you if you are ever fighting for compensation you are owed.
Brandon J. Broderick, Attorney at Law, has a team of CT car accident lawyers that can help you today. We've assisted accident victims recover damages for decades.
Issues With Insurance Policies or Coverage
Since Connecticut is a "fault state", the at-fault party's insurance company is responsible for covering losses in the event of an accident. So, that insurer will thoroughly investigate all aspects of the accident to mitigate the amount they will pay or not pay. If there is a problem with the policy, the company may refuse to pay the claim. Below are a few reasons they may use to reject a claim:
Coverage Is Not Valid
Only when a valid insurance policy is in place will the insurance company pay for damages. Suppose you break your arm in a Connecticut store due to a slip and fall. In the aftermath of the accident, the owner gives you his insurance company's contact details. However, the insurer says it cannot locate any policy covering that store. The store owner, it seems, has opened a new store without updating his insurance policy accordingly. Thus, the insurance company can legally refuse to pay out on the claim because there isn’t valid coverage for the store.
Coverage is Expired
If an insurance company believes that coverage has lapsed, it will refuse to pay any claims submitted. Insurance policies can lapse for a variety of reasons, such as not paying premiums on time, an insurer cancels coverage without cause, or when the insurance company goes out of business. An insurance claim will only be paid out when an active policy is in place.
Losses That Aren't Covered
In order to establish the validity of your claim for compensation, insurance companies will investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident. There is always something in the fine print of an insurance policy that will be excluded from coverage and surely lead to a claim being denied coverage. If the insurer determines that the injury or damage incurred is not covered by the policy, it will reject your claim. Storm damage and vandalism committed on purpose are two common examples of behavior that is not covered by standard insurance policies.
Disqualified Drivers
In some states, it's required that all registered vehicles have insurance. However, just because a car is insured by insurance coverage doesn't mean that everyone driving the vehicle is covered under the policy.
In reality, it is not uncommon for insurance policies to have provisions that exclude coverage for certain types of drivers. This merely indicates the existence of a valid policy, albeit one that excludes certain motorists. Therefore, if your injuries were caused by a driver who is not included in the policy's coverage, the insurer has the discretion to reject your claim.
Negligence By The Policyholder
If you cause an accident because you were careless, your car insurance policy may not pay for losses. This may include speeding, ignoring traffic signals, and breaking other rules. For those injured in an auto accident, no-fault jurisdictions like New Jersey and New York require only that the policyholder or policyholder's family pay medical expenses. However, in a "fault" state like Connecticut, the negligent driver is on the hook for damages. However, coverage is dependent on your policy. There would be other factors as well, like if you share fault with the other driver, for example.
If your driver's license has expired or been revoked, or if an uninsured person was allowed to operate your car, the insurance company may refuse to pay damages. Generally speaking, doing any of these activities is against most insurance policies.
Injured Party Failed To Get Medical Treatment
Anyone injured in a car accident should get medical care as soon as possible. If you wait – even a day – the insurance company can attempt to cast doubt on the severity of your injuries and reject or undervalue your claim.
When you are injured and undergoing medical treatment, keep all hospital bills and receipts in case the insurance company requests proof. You may still be able to get compensation for your injuries, even if you wait to see a doctor after the accident symptoms start showing up.
It's up to your lawyer to advocate on your behalf and present proof that you are injured and eligible for compensation.
Missed Deadline to File Claim
If you were hurt in a car accident, your main concern may be to get better. However, maybe you aren't thinking straight and miss the deadline to file your claim? Filing a claim in a timely manner is important. You do not want to miss a filing deadline and forfeit your right to seek damages.
If you are injured and unable to contact the insurance company immediately, it is imperative that you have all relevant medical records and police reports prepared for submission as soon as you are able.
Claims Filed and Denied in Bad Faith
The purpose of insurance is to ensure that those injured in an accident can get the help they need to recover financially. But insurance only works if both policyholders and insurance providers fulfill their obligations. Companies have an obligation under the law to give careful consideration to any claims presented by policyholders who have purchased and paid for coverage. Sadly, not all insurers adhere to industry standards or consider your claim fairly.
Denied Without an Appropriate Review
Adjusters must thoroughly investigate each claim before making a decision about whether to pay out benefits. The claim and surrounding circumstances need to be investigated as part of this due diligence process. How can you be sure that an investigation into your claim wasn't conducted prior to its denial? Verify that the insurer always gives a valid explanation for the refusal. A red flag should be raised if your insurance company rejected your claim without giving you any explanation.
Delay in Filing a Claim
As soon as possible following an accident, you should get in touch with your insurance provider to file a claim. There is typically a short window of time in which to bring a claim for personal injury with most insurance companies. Your claim must be filed within a "reasonable" amount of time after the accident has occurred.
When it comes to what is considered "reasonable", some companies may have a strict deadline while others are more flexible. If the insurance company determines that you did not submit your claim within the appropriate time frame, they may reject it. This could be an example of a bad faith strategy meant to prevent you from winning a legitimate claim for damages.
No Lawyer Representing You
If you don't have a lawyer, the insurance company will take advantage of you. If they think you aren't well-versed in the law, they can use that against you. They may make it hard for you to get in touch with a representative or cause your claim to be delayed unnecessarily.
These tactics are used to put you in a position where you feel that you have no choice but to accept whatever offer is made to you, no matter how unfair. Hiring a car accident lawyer to handle your claim is one way to protect your interests and ensure that it receives adequate compensation.
Need Help Dealing With a Car Insurance Company?
Have you been denied compensation in a Connecticut car accident by your insurance company? Get in touch with Brandon J. Broderick, Attorney At Law, right away to retain legal representation. Even if your claim was rejected, that doesn't mean you have no options for financial restitution. Our team of car accident lawyers will investigate the reasons behind your claim's denial. Once the root cause has been isolated, we can decide whether an appeal is warranted or whether other legal options should be explored.
We are here to assist you. We won't give in to the insurance company if they try to stop you. Contact us now to speak with our experienced legal team for a free case evaluation.