If you’re like most drivers, you pay your monthly insurance premiums like clockwork. You would never risk getting into an accident without having sufficient insurance to cover any damages caused by the crash. This makes it even more frustrating to find out that your insurance company denied your claim. Macon car accident lawyers meet with clients every week who are devastated by the fact that their insurance claim was denied. They don’t know where to turn and they’re afraid. What we do is appeal their claim and see if the insurance company is willing to do the right thing. If not, we’ll file a personal injury lawsuit on their behalf.
Here, we’ll discuss the reasons why your insurance company may have denied your claim. We’ll also explain what your options are if this happens to you. If you still have questions or concerns, feel free to contact our office directly. One of our seasoned auto accident lawyers in Macon will meet with you free of charge. This should give you a better idea of where you stand. It should also give you the peace of mind you so desperately need.
Your Macon Personal Injury Lawyer Needs to Know Why Your Claim Was Denied
Before your auto accident lawyer in Macon can start preparing your case, they need to know why your claim was denied. Typically, if your insurance claim is approved, you’ll have payment within a week or two. However, if your claim is denied, you will get a letter of denial in the mail.
The moment you get this letter, you should call an Macon auto accident attorney. Let them see a copy of the letter so they know why your claim was denied in the first place.
The various reasons why the insurance company may have denied your claim includes the following:
- They believe you caused the crash
- The insurance adjuster doesn’t believe you were injured
- The policy was cancelled for non-payment
- The policy was invalid for some other reason
- You didn’t file your claim properly
- You have a history of filing auto insurance claims
For most of these reasons, your attorney can file an appeal. However, if the policy wasn’t valid – for any reason – your claim will not be paid. It’s hard enough to get insurance companies to pay out claims on valid policies. There’s no way they’ll pay a claim filed against an invalid or cancelled policy. There isn’t anything your Macon personal injury lawyer can do to help in these situations.
What if the Insurance Company Denies Your Appeal?
As stated above, if the policy was valid, your auto accident lawyer in Macon can file an appeal. They’ll ask the insurance adjuster to reevaluate your claim. You may wonder why the insurance company would change their mind suddenly and pay your claim. That isn’t the way it works.
When your attorney reaches out to the insurance company, they’re putting them on notice that you have a lawyer. Once the insurance adjuster sees that you’ve retained legal counsel, they may be more inclined to settle your claim. They realize that they won’t be able to take advantage of you, especially now that you have legal counsel.
Your Auto Accident Lawyer in Macon Will File Suit on Your Behalf
If the insurance company refuses to negotiate a settlement of your claim, you’ll be left with no choice. You’ll have to file a personal injury lawsuit against the other driver. Once you do this, the defendant’s insurance company is legally required to defend the other driver.
Knowing that the other driver will be represented, you should have an attorney there for you too. This way, you don’t have to worry about missing any filing deadlines. You also know that it will be filed properly.
Once the complaint is filed, your auto accident lawyer in Macon will gather the evidence needed to prove your case. They’ll also try to negotiate a settlement with the defendant’s attorney. This way, you don’t have to worry about going to trial. Since trials aren’t in anybody best interest, it’s better if you can settle your case.
Trials are not only expensive, but they can also take forever. By the time your case goes in front of a judge, it could be years. Once this happens, you’ll be sent back once again to work out a settlement.
What Kinds of Damages Can You Demand in Your Lawsuit?
When your auto accident lawyer in Macon files your personal injury lawsuit, they’ll need to list your damages. These are the various losses you suffered because of your car accident. While there’s no guarantee that your full demand will be met, you should be entitled to some or all the following:
- Medical bills and future medical bills
- Property damage
- Lost wages
- Lost future income
- Pain and suffering
Most accident victims settle their case. If your settlement covers your out-of-pocket expenses, you will be made whole. Anything above and beyond that will be used to compensate you for your mental and physical anguish.
To receive any of these damages, your lawyer will have to prove them. They’ll do this using whatever evidence is available to them. This includes:
- Police report
- Witness statements
- Your own statements or testimony
- Medical records
- Payroll and tax records
- Copies of your mechanic’s bills
The best thing you can do is help your attorney gather this information. For example, if you can get a copy of your medical records, do it sooner rather than later. The same is true for the police report. The faster your attorney has this information, the faster they can get your case settled.
Contact One of Our Macon Personal Injury Lawyers Right Away
If you or your loved one have been hurt in an accident, you need all the help you can get. We understand how frustrating it can be to find out the insurance company has denied your claim. Our auto accident lawyers in Macon have extensive experience dealing with the insurance companies. We aren’t intimidated and will fight to get you the compensation you deserve.
Depending on the reason why your claim was denied, we may be able to help. As long as the policy was valid at the time of the crash, we can always file an appeal. If this doesn’t work, we’ll file suit on behalf of you and your family.
All you have to do is call The Herro Law Firm to schedule your initial consultation. It won’t cost you a thing so you have nothing to lose.
