Insurance companies work hard to limit their liability. It is important to speak with a car accident lawyer to understand what you are entitled to.
When you are in a car accident in the state of Missouri, who is at-fault is determined, and then that person’s insurance company is generally responsible for paying for both the injuries of the at-fault driver and any property damage.
It might be the case that both, or even multiple drivers, are at-fault due to comparative negligence. If more than one driver is at fault, then the insurance company is responsible for paying for their “portion” or percentage of negligence according to the law.
If you filed a claim for personal injury through your insurance company and you are being denied coverage, there are times when it will “stick” and others when the insurance company is just looking for a way out of their obligation.
Knowing the difference, and defending yourself against being turned away when you shouldn’t, is critical to getting the compensation that you deserve.
Why Would an Insurance Company Deny a Claim?
You pay your premium and expect that an insurance company’s job is to ensure that you are adequately compensated when you are in an accident, but that might not always be the case. A car insurance company is in the business as a business.
That means that their goal is to be profitable. They do that by trying to limit their liability any way that they can. That gives them an incentive to deny claims that are real and justified, to make people jump through hoops and hopefully give up.
It also means that an insurance company will almost always low ball how much they give you. Whether it is assessing your car repairs at a lower cost than is realistic or trying to limit your non-economic damages, they will work hard to pay you as less as possible, not to compensate you wholly.
Valid Reasons Why They Can Deny Your Claim
Not all denials are based on unethical practices. There are valid reasons that your claim might be denied, the most common being:
- Your insurance was expired when you were in the accident.
- There isn’t enough evidence to prove that you were at-fault in the crash.
- The accident happened in a location where your policy does not cover you.
- You don’t have the proper documentation to determine that you were injured at all, or your injuries were pre-existing, and not a result of the accident.
Your insurance company is required to pay for a car accident where you were at-fault, period. If you are being denied coverage, it is crucial that you speak with a St. Louis car accident attorney as soon as possible.
Even if the insurance company is trying to minimize your compensation, your St. Louis car accident lawyer will fight hard to ensure that they live up to their end of the deal and only pay the amount to which they are obligated. If you don’t fight, you won’t win.