After a car accident, a victim relies on auto insurance to pay for their medical bills, car repairs, and other related expenses. Unfortunately, insurance coverage varies greatly and doesn’t always cover a collision. If you are insured but insurance isn’t willing to compensate you, there are a few things that can happen. Before you do anything, you should look into your insurance coverage and find out if your crash should be covered.
This article is for everyone, but is especially intended for Pennies readers in Florida and New York State.
Speaking to an Attorney
The first thing you should do is to speak with an attorney. If your insurance company or the other driver’s insurance company denied the claim, you need professional guidance. There are several reasons for which they might decide to deny a claim. However, their denial could have been unfair.
The insurance company doesn’t want to give you the money you deserve. Instead, they’d like to deny as many claims as possible and keep their business making money. Therefore, the insurance company might deny your claim even if there are no grounds for one. When you meet with an attorney, they can tell you whether or not your claim should have been denied.
Making an Appeal
If the insurance company should have approved the claim, your lawyer will appeal. They can negotiate with the insurance company and prove your case. Then, you may be able to receive the money you deserve.
Of course, the appeal process isn’t easy. Most insurance companies employ large law firms who specialize in fighting insurance claims. If you want a chance at a positive outcome, you need to work with an experienced professional.
Filing a Personal Injury Claim
Depending on your situation, you might have another option. In some cases, accident victims are able to file personal injury claims against the at-fault driver. If the other driver was uninsured, you probably won’t receive a high settlement. With an average annual income of $23,096 a year, the typical Fort Myers resident cannot afford to pay for your accident-related expenses.
On the other hand, a claim made against an insured driver has a better chance of success. Your attorney will start the legal process and attempt to get you a settlement offer. If there is no settlement, your case will go to trial.
Why Doesn’t Insurance Always Cover Accidents?
There are several reasons why insurance might not cover an accident. For one, not all drivers have the minimum required insurance coverage. Some have no insurance or extremely limited insurance. If they are involved in an accident, they have no protection. There’s a significant population of uninsured and underinsured drivers in Florida.
Even if a driver is insured, it might not be enough. The minimum required coverage in Florida is only $10,000 in bodily injury coverage per person and $20,000 in bodily injury for all people involved in the accident. There’s a $10,000 cap on property damage liability and a $10,000 cap on personal injury protection.
In Florida, a driver is not required to have underinsured or uninsured motorist protection. But having such protection could prevent you from being responsible for thousands of dollars in damage.
Finding the Right Lawyer
If the insurance company is refusing to cover your accident, it’s time to get a car accident attorney involved in the process. They will take the pressure away from your shoulders and work towards getting you the money you deserve. There are frankly a lot of attorneys practicing law in the US – understatement of the year – but if you are in New York State you might consider Obrien and Ford. If you get in a car accident, they’re a good team to call in New York. They practice in Buffalo, but are versed in New York law, so you don’t have to just be in Buffalo to contact them.
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