Since the dawn of time, a game of tug and war has been played between insurance companies and policyholders. The battles can be brutal due to lost time and the methods insurance companies use to pay as little as possible to the injured party.
That’s because when you file an insurance claim, the company may deny your claim for any number of questionable reasons. One of the most common dispute ploys is to say that the necessary paperwork is either missing or was never submitted.
Unfortunately, that is one of many tactics used to avoid payouts to the insured.
Common Types of Insurance Coverage
As you likely know, insurance coverage can apply to a wide range of people, property, and possessions. Listed below are a few examples of the most common types of insurance.
- Health
- Automobiles
- Life
- Home
- Dental
- Workers
Reasons Your Claim Might Be Denied
When an insurance company denies a valid claim and refuses coverage for something the policy covers, it can result in an insurance bad faith dispute.
Bad faith disputes can also occur when an insurance company does a poor investigation into your claim to determine whether it is a legitimately payable claim.
Some reasons for a denied claim can include the following:
- Health insurance companies may deny a claim by announcing a lapse in coverage, or that the injury or procedure is not covered by the policy.
- An independent adjuster assigned by your auto insurance could determine that your auto losses are not covered under your insurance policy.
- An employer may state an accident was caused by the worker or that the worker had a prior health condition.
- A homeowner’s insurance company could allege arson was the cause of a fire that destroyed a home, or the company could dispute the home’s value.
These are all approaches an insurance company may take to deny or delay claim payments.
What You Should Do to Protect Yourself
It is important to remember that you should immediately report the loss or injury to the insurer by filing a claim.
You can further protect yourself by taking photos, writing notes that list who you spoke with at the insurance company and what was stated, and documenting even the smallest detail regarding your claim. The more information and documentation you have, the better for your claim.
Get Help With Insurance Companies
Insurance companies will fight tooth and nail to keep policyholders from the payment they deserve. You must have someone in your corner who can go toe to toe and get you the compensation you deserve.
The attorneys at Timberlake & League can help. Please call us at 256-536-0770 to schedule your FREE consultation.