It is not uncommon for insurance companies to deny valid claims. They may seek additional information in an endless process. When you are facing serious injuries and losses and you receive a delayed or denied car accident claim in Florida, take the following steps. Talk to a Davie car accident attorney about your case today.
Determine Why You Were Denied
Insurance companies will send you a letter that outlines the specific reasons they denied your claim. If the agent is willing to talk to you about these causes, ask them for clarity. You will need to support the missing information. However, you should not be surprised if they continue to try to deny or delay.
Hire an Attorney to Handle the Process for You
You do not need to give in to their denials. That is what the insurance company wants you to do. Instead, hire a car accident lawyer in Florida to represent you. Your attorney will do several things that may be hard for you to do on your own:
- Seek additional evidence from those at fault. This could include seeking medical records, taking action to get video or dash camera footage, or pursuing records from the other driver.
- Determine if there are other parties also at fault. This could extend the range of your coverage, helping you to recover more of your losses.
- Communicate with and clearly outline your expectations from the insurance company. Having a lawyer means they have to take your claims seriously.
Your lawyer will take over the entire process for you, alleviating your responsibility of having to answer questions or being put on the spot. This also eliminates the risk of making a statement that could jeopardize your case.
Keep in mind that insurance companies may try to deny your claim in the hopes that you give up or run out of time under the state’s laws. You want to make sure that does not happen.
File a Lawsuit Within the Statute of Limitations
The Florida statute of limitations for car accident claims is two years. If the insurance company is not willing to settle your case fairly through an out-of-court settlement, your lawyer will file a lawsuit against the insurance company or the at-fault party. This changes the process.
At this point, the insurance company is forced to respond. They will undergo a formal discovery process, during which they will ask questions and conduct investigations. They are then more likely to agree to a settlement with you, one that your car accident lawyer will work to maximize.
If, for any reason, they still do not agree to your claim and deny or delay taking action, your case will go before a courtroom. A judge or jury then determines if you should receive compensation and what the value of your case is. While you are sure to want to settle out of court since it tends to be faster, there are times when the insurance company will not take those actions.
Set Up a Case Evaluation with an Attorney to Learn More
When you are facing serious injuries and losses, set up a free consultation with a car accident lawyer in Florida to help you. This step provides you with the legal insight you need without any risk of incurring out-of-pocket expenses.