After suffering serious injuries from an accident that was out of your control, your first course of action will most likely be to file an injury claim before the deadline to get help with medical bills and recover the income you missed out on while in recovery. If your claim is approved, you’ll be able to get the financial support you need while your injuries heal. However, it’s an unfortunate fact that injury claims can be denied, leaving you in a stressful and vulnerable position.
If your injury claim has been denied, it’s important that you take action as soon as possible so that you can receive the compensation you deserve. Our Chattanooga personal injury lawyers at The McMahan Law Firm have compiled these tips for helping you respond to a personal injury claim denial.
Understand Your Policy
When you receive a denial on your injury claim, your first reaction will most likely be an understandable feeling that this is unfair to you. After all, you are hurt and need assistance. Shouldn’t you receive help from your insurance company?
Whether or not you can receive compensation for your injuries actually depends entirely on the details of your insurance policy. Hidden in the fine print of many policies are certain conditions known as “exclusions.” These are injuries that are not covered by your insurance policy, and filing an injury claim for these injuries will result in a denial.
After receiving your denial, carefully go over your insurance policy, paying particular attention to any exclusions that may be mentioned. If you find that your injury should have been covered under your policy, it is time to take action against your insurance company
Get in Touch With Your Insurer
Once you have examined your policy for any exclusions pertaining to your injury, do a side-by-side comparison of your policy with the denial letter you received. If the denial contradicts the terms of your policy or contains misleading or inaccurate information, your next step will be to send your insurance company a dispute letter. This letter notifies your insurer that you believe your denial was unfair and should be reconsidered.
When writing your dispute letter, be sure to point out exactly why you believe your claim should have been approved. Provide detailed information on the contradictions between your policy coverage and the material contained in the denial.
Once your insurer has received your letter, they may request an arbitration. Remember: never agree to this arbitration without first securing representation and receiving legal advice from a trusted personal injury lawyer. This will prevent your insurer from bullying you during the arbitration process into accepting much less than your claim is worth
Pursue a Lawsuit, If Necessary
If you cannot get your insurance company to respond to your letter, or if their response wasn’t to your satisfaction, this is when you should consider filing a lawsuit. For this step, hiring a lawyer becomes crucial.
Hire a Chattanooga Personal Injury Lawyer
Having a personal injury lawyer on your side will be to your advantage whether you decide to pursue a lawsuit or not. The McMahan Law Firm can take care of all of the above steps for you while ensuring that no detail is overlooked. We review your policy for free, handle all correspondence with the insurance company, and negotiate your settlement on your behalf.
If a lawsuit is in your best interest, we work hard to protect your interests throughout the entire process. Our Attorneys have the know-how necessary to fight the insurance companies so that your claim is approved and you’re able to concentrate on your recovery.
Give us a call or fill out a form to ask the McMahan Law Firm about your injury claim denial today.
