December 19, 2023
A Car Insurance Denied Lawyer Is Your Best Resource
Buying a car is a major transaction. For many, other than their homes, this is the most valuable asset they own. Thus, they know and understand the value of protecting it through the purchase of car insurance.
Most car owners carefully consider which insurance company to use; they review multiple organizations’ policies and select the one that best meets their needs. Of course, they make this purchase hoping they will never need to use it, but believing that if they do, their insurance company would act in good faith and pay their claims quickly and completely. Unfortunately, the opposite is quite often true
Even large, established and seemingly reputable insurance companies regularly delay and deny car insurance claims.
Insurance companies are for-profit businesses whose primary loyalty is to their shareholders. Profitability is their ultimate goal. Because each paid claim reduces the corporation’s income, they have a very real incentive to deny them. In many cases, the policyholders don’t understand their rights and take the initial notification of denial as final. Don’t do this. You do have recourse.
If your car insurance claim was denied, engaging a seasoned car insurance denial attorney is a wise decision. This professional can review your policy and your claim and help to maximize your settlement.
Why Car Insurance Companies Deny Claims
The first step in addressing denied claims is understanding the basis for the decision. Below are some of the most common reasons this happens.
Policy Payment Issues
Missed premium payments are one of the most common reasons claims are denied. A valid date on an insurance card is not proof of existing coverage. A missed payment could cause a lapse in your coverage (or the coverage of the individual at fault for your accident), resulting in a claim denial, leaving you financially vulnerable.
Your Illegal Actions Caused the Accident
Operating your motor vehicle responsibly is critical. If you were breaking the law (driving under the influence, speeding or even texting while driving), the insurance company may deny your claim. Additionally, you must have a valid driver’s license; if an unlicensed driver uses your vehicle and gets into an accident, the insurance company may refuse to pay your expenses.
Administrative Problems
Car insurance policies provide a mandatory time frame for reporting accidents. That said, it is best to contact your insurance company as soon as possible after an accident and take and submit pictures, if you are able. This helps avoid their questioning the facts of the incident. Additionally, make sure you communicate the incident in the manner required by your company. Many have paperwork that needs to be completed within a specific time frame, and some require online submissions.
Policy Limits and Coverage Issues
When you purchase an insurance policy you have to select your coverage levels. Oklahoma auto insurance law mandates minimum coverage of 25/50/25. Some people have greater coverage at a higher rate. If the injury costs exceed your policy coverage, you may be personally responsible for them — your insurance company would not be liable.
Collision is a type of coverage not every vehicle owner elects to purchase. If you fail to pay for this, and your car is damaged in an accident, the insurance company is not liable for repairs. Many times individuals who drive older, less valuable cars do not take out collision insurance because they believe it is not a financially sound decision.
Using a Personal Vehicle for Work
When you purchase an insurance policy, you need to disclose how you use your car. If you state that your vehicle is for personal use only, and then get into an accident while using it for work (like delivering food), your claim may be denied.
Questionable Injury Charges
It is not uncommon for insurance companies to question the validity of medical damages and underpay these types of claims. Because of this, it is important to document your injuries and seek medical attention as soon as possible after the accident. Quite often, collisions result in an adrenaline rush which can mask the pain of injuries. People who felt like they were okay immediately after a crash later come to learn they were, in fact, hurt.
Insurance Companies Act in Bad Faith
Understanding These Behaviors
Under the law, your insurance company has a duty to operate in good faith. Unfortunately, not all of them do. Examples of bad faith with regard to automobile insurance denials are:
- Denying your claim without justification
- Engaging biased experts to review claims
- Delaying claim payments
- Underpaying claims.
If you believe your insurance company is guilty of these behaviors, you should engage an insurance claims denial attorney as soon as possible.
Has Your Auto Insurance Claim Been Unfairly Delayed, Denied, or Underpaid?
Don’t Worry, You Have Recourse
Insurance companies unfairly deny automobile accident claims every day. Because many people believe these decisions are final and walk away without the settlement they are due, these companies are able to increase their profitability.
If you believe you were the victim of a bad faith decision, you should reach out to an automobile claims denial attorney.
This professional can review your claim, your policy, and the response from your insurance company to determine if the insurance company has acted in bad faith. If so, they will work with you to identify all of your damages and negotiate with the insurance company to maximize your settlement.
Contact Doug Terry Law, A Denied Claim Lawyer, Today
As you likely know, engaging with your automobile insurance company requires a great deal of knowledge, time, and patience. As a recent accident victim, your energies could be much better spent focusing on your recovery. When you work with the team at Doug Terry Law, you can rest assured they will handle your case from beginning to end, taking the burden off of you.
Doug Terry has decades of experience; he has been practicing law since 1993. A significant portion of his practice is dedicated to helping victims of bad faith insurance practices. He knows the resources insurance companies have and how they leverage them against individuals every day, and he is committed to helping his clients overcome the hurdles placed by organizations like this and maximizing their settlements.
Contact Doug Terry Law at 405-463-6362 today to schedule a case evaluation and learn how we can support you through this process.
Attorney Doug Terry
After 25 years practicing in a larger firm, Doug chose to open his own practice in Oklahoma City. He brings his wealth of knowledge and his skills as a litigator to bear for his clients in matters of insurance bad faith, personal injury cases and class actions. He won $200 million and $25 million verdicts for clients in cases in which an insurer denied a health insurance claim. Doug has the distinction of being awarded a Martindale-Hubbell “AV Preeminent” rating from his peers in the legal community. He has also been selected as an Oklahoma Super Lawyer. [Attorney Bio]
