When you’ve suffered an injury due to someone else’s negligence, filing a personal injury claim with an insurance company is a fundamental step toward obtaining the compensation you need for recovery. However, the path to receiving a fair settlement can be full of challenges, including the risk of having your claim undervalued or outright denied by the insurer.
Understanding the common reasons for claim denials and under-valuations can arm you with the knowledge needed to navigate these obstacles. This guide delves into the most prevalent causes of personal injury claim rejections and reductions, offering insights into how insurance companies operate and what you can do if you find yourself facing these frustrating hurdles.
If your personal injury claim has been denied, contact our personal injury lawyers today.
6 Most Common Reasons Why Insurance Companies Deny Personal Injury Claims
- The insurance policy has insufficient coverage. This may include the policy not covering the type of accident that caused the injury or the claim exceeding the maximum coverage of the policy.
- The insurance policy was not in effect at the time of the accident. This may be because the policy was opened after the accident, or because the policy expired before the accident.
- There is insufficient evidence of the injury origin. If there is not sufficient evidence that the injury was a result of the accident, or counter-evidence to suggest the injuries were caused by something else (i.e. pre-existing condition or prior accident), the claim might be denied.
- The statute of limitations has expired. If the statute of limitations deadline has passed, it’s likely that you will not be able to pursue compensation through the court.
- There is shared fault, or a liability dispute. If the insurance company concludes that you were at-fault for the accident, they may deny your claim.
- There was a significant delay in medical treatment. If there was a substantial amount of time between the accident and medical treatment, the insurance company might conclude that the claimant was not actually injured in the accident and deny the claim.
Other Reasons Your Personal Injury Claim Was Denied
Aside from the reasons above, other explanations for a personal injury claim denial may include the claimant not following the claims procedure, only suffering very minor injuries, discrepancies between the accident report and your medical records, compensation demands are determined to be too high, etc. If you feel your insurance claim was unjustly denied, speak with an attorney at Braker White for free.
How Do Insurance Companies Undervalue Injury Claims?
If the insurance company cannot deny your claim, it may undervalue your claim. Insurance companies are businesses. They will do what they can to pay as little as possible. Some common reasons an insurance company will undervalue your claim include pre-existing conditions, comparative fault, and delays or discrepancies in medical treatment.
Other methods insurance companies use to undervalue claims include:
- Disputing medical treatments
- Questioning the severity of injuries
- Applying depreciation to property damage
- Offering quick settlements
- Using standardized claim-assessment software
If you believe the insurance company has undervalued your claim, our personal injury attorneys can help negotiate a higher settlement. Learn more about how we negotiate personal injury claims.
What To Do If Your Personal Injury Claim is Denied
If your claim has been denied, you should consider contacting a personal injury lawyer to review your case and determine the right steps to take in order to receive the compensation you deserve. Learn more about what to do if your injury claim is denied.
How Can a West Texas Personal Injury Lawyer Help?
Our personal injury attorneys in Odessa and Midland can help in a handful of key ways. We can investigate your accident, help guide you through the legal process, negotiate for the compensation you may be entitled to, and represent you in court, if needed. Altogether, our support can provide peace of mind in a very difficult time. Contact us today if you think you may have a valid personal injury case. We offer free case reviews and work on a contingency fee basis, so there is no financial risk to you–we don’t get paid unless we secure compensation for you.
