If you’re like most drivers in Georgia, then you pay your insurance premiums on time. You do this because it’s the law, but also because you want to make sure you’re taken care of if you get into an accident. This is why it can be extremely frustrating to find out that the insurance company has denied your accident claim.
Regardless of the reason, receiving this news is going to make you angry and upset. You’re already worried about how you’ll pay your medical bills, but now you can’t even afford to fix your vehicle. This is when it’s time to call an auto accident lawyer in Albany.
Our attorneys have been dealing with insurance companies for years. They’ll find out exactly why your claim was denied and help you file an appeal. If this doesn’t work, they’ll have no problem filing suit on your behalf. All you have to do is contact our office and speak with one of our personal injury lawyers in Albany.
You can schedule your free, initial consultation right over the phone or through our website. Rather than try to take on the insurance company on your own, you can have one of our legal professionals handle it for you.
Find Out Why Your Car Insurance Claim Was Denied
The first thing your personal injury lawyer in Albany will have to do is find out why your car insurance claim was denied. It would be nice if this was listed on your denial letter, but often times the insurance adjuster simply provides you with a code. You then have to trace this denial code to find out what the true reason is for the denial.
As long as the auto insurance policy was valid, your auto accident lawyer in Albany should be able to file an appeal. Just keep in mind, there’s no way an insurance company will pay a claim on an invalid policy. If they were to do that, they’d be out of business in a matter of months.
Some of the reasons why your claim may have been denied include the following:
- The policy had lapsed or was canceled for non-payment.
- You didn’t file your claim in time.
- The insurance adjuster believes you caused the crash.
- The insurance company believes that you’re exaggerating your injuries.
- Your claim is large, and the insurance company would rather take their chances in court.
- You didn’t submit all the information necessary to decide your claim.
Your lawyer is going to need information from you before they can file an appeal. Make sure you bring them a copy of the police report, a copy of your medical records, and any correspondence you’ve received regarding the accident.
They’ll use this information to put an appeal together and try to get your claim paid. If for some reason the insurance company still denies your claim, you’ll have no choice but to file suit against the other driver.
Worst Case, Your Personal Injury Lawyer in Albany Can File Suit
As much as you may wish to avoid legal action, sometimes you have no other choice. You have to remember that when you sue somebody, you’re usually suing their insurance company, not them. While the other driver will be named in the suit, more than likely any damages paid will be paid by their insurance carrier.
When you initiate a suit, the insurance adjuster will likely reach out to your auto accident lawyer in Albany. Part of this is because they want to confirm that you are represented by an attorney. But another reason is to feel out your lawyer and see if they’re open to settlement negotiations.
The whole point of hiring a lawyer is so that they can negotiate a fair settlement on your behalf. Very rarely do these cases go to trial. In fact, more than 95% of all personal injury lawsuits settle long before trial. Trials are expensive and time-consuming.
In addition, there’s no guarantee that you’ll win at trial. You could lose and walk away with nothing. If this happens, then your personal injury lawyer in Albany walks away with nothing too. This would be the worst-case scenario for everybody involved.
What Kind of Damages Can You Demand?
Even though your attorney is going to try to negotiate a settlement, that doesn’t mean they’ll encourage you to take less than you deserve. When you initially file your complaint, your auto accident lawyer in Albany will have to list your damages. Most car accident cases involve the following types of damages:
- Medical bills and future medical bills
- Property damage
- Lost wages
- Lost future income
- Pain and suffering
Since each case is different, the damages in your case may be different than they are for somebody else. It all depends on what injuries you suffered and the circumstances surrounding your crash. For example, if you’re already retired, you won’t be able to demand damages for future lost income. Similarly, if you didn’t suffer any substantial physical injuries, you won’t be entitled to a lot of damages for pain and suffering.
One thing we always try to remind our clients about is it it’s our job to make you whole- it’s not our job to make you rich. You cannot expect to be put into a better position than you were before the accident took place. As long as you walk away without having paid any out-of-pocket expenses, you should consider it a win.
Contact an Experienced Auto Accident Lawyer in Albany Right Away
If you’ve been involved in a car accident you need to speak with an experienced auto accident lawyer in Albany. There’s too much at stake to try to handle this on your own. The insurance company denied your claim and is hoping that you’ll walk away. The last thing they expect is for you to put up a fight. However, when they learn that you’ve hired a personal injury attorney in Albany, they’ll take your claim a little more seriously.
We suggest you contact our office as soon as possible after the crash. You can schedule your free, initial consultation with any one of our associates. Our team has decades of combined experience handling car accident cases. We’ll work hard to make sure that you get the compensation you deserve.
It’s important to remember that you do not have to pay anything for this consultation, and you don’t pay our office until your case settles. This means you have nothing to lose and everything to gain. You can bet the other driver will have a team of lawyers working for them and you should too.
