5 Common Reasons Insurance Companies Deny Colorado Accident Claims
Filing a claim with an insurance company after an accident should be smooth and straightforward. When the injuries you sustained in an accident are due to someone’s negligence, filing a claim is your way of recovering financial compensation to help you recover and return to your daily life.
Unfortunately, filing a claim to recover damages is not always straightforward. Insurance companies often offer lower settlement offers than the claim’s actual value. When they don’t offer less, they deny claims for the slightest and smallest mistake, which is why it’s essential to be proactive at every step of the claim process. While hiring legal representation during a car accident personal injury claim is not required, it’s beneficial to have an experienced attorney who can represent your best interest during insurance negotiations.
Top 5 Reasons Insurance Companies Deny Car Accident Claims
Whether you were at-fault for the accident or not, insurance companies may not make it easy to obtain the compensation you deserve. Insurance companies will deny claims for many reasons. It’s necessary to understand the common reason insurance companies deny claims to ensure you take all precautions to avoid them.
Missing Deadlines
Most insurance companies will have deadlines for the forms needed throughout the claim. Missing any deadlines may lead to a claim denial from the insurance provider. However, if a deadline is missed for some reason, you may be able to negotiate with the insurance agent. The best way to ensure all deadlines are met and avoid claim denial altogether is to work with a skilled personal injury lawyer who can guide you through the legal process.
Liability Disputes
After investigating, the insurance company may not believe the policyholder is liable for your damages and losses. The insurer can argue that someone else or something else caused your damages; they may even state that you were at fault for the losses yourself. A liability dispute can lead to a complete denial of your claim. If the insurance company believes you contributed to your injuries, they may still offer compensation, but in a smaller amount based on comparative negligence rules.
Lack of Medical Care
Medical reports and documents of injury-related treatments and doctor visits are all vital to proving the existence of the injury and the severity. Lack of detailed documentation throughout the entire medical treatment process for the injury related to the action can be used to deny a claim.
Pre-Existing Injuries
Permitting insurance claim adjusters to access your entire medical history is not advisable. Once an insurance claim adjuster has access to your complete medical history, one of their tactics is to claim your injury is, in fact, a pre-existing condition and may deny your claim. Instead of signing a medical release waiver, obtain copies of only the medical records related to the injury you submitted to the insurance company.
Lack of Coverage Availability
An insurance company may deny a claim if the policy in question does not have the type of coverage you are seeking. For instance, if you request coverage from your own insurance provider for a hit-and-run accident but don’t have uninsured/underinsured motorist insurance, your insurance company may deny the claim. A company can also deny or reduce coverage if your claim exceeds the maximum coverage available on the policy.
Contact Our Mintz Law Firm Accident Claim Lawyer in Colorado
Negotiating with insurance companies while also recovering from an injury or various injuries can be stressful. Additional stress can be added when an insurance company attempts to deny your claim regardless of the validity of your claim. At Mintz Law Firm, we understand the life-altering effects an accident injury can have and how complex the legal process of filing a claim can become because of insurance companies’ tactics. Our legal team has the experience and resources to help you pursue the compensation you deserve. Schedule a consultation with our attorneys by calling (303) 462-2999 or filling out our contact form.