You were in a car accident. Thankfully, you are alive. Still, your life has been drastically changed by another driver’s carelessness. You’re hurting physically, emotionally, and financially as you navigate car repairs, miss time from work, and watch your costs increase, all while recovering from your injuries. In most cases, your losses are covered by the at-fault party’s liability insurance. But what should you do if the insurance provider rejects you? The short answer: hire a personal injury attorney to help file a formal insurance claim. Louis W. Grande is a personal injury attorney serving injury victims in Providence, RI. As an injury attorney, he’ll go up against the insurance company on your behalf to get a ruling or agreement allowing you to recover financial compensation for your damages.
In this article, we’ll explain why the insurance company is giving you the runaround and what you can do about it.
Why Won’t the Insurance Company Pay Up?
It is very frustrating when an insurance company refuses to pay. You have medical bills and need car repairs, so you don’t have time for insurance claim disputes. It is not as if the other driver didn’t have auto insurance. So what could be causing the delay?
If you have yet to receive a written explanation, here are some likely explanations.
Their Insurance Company Thinks You Are the At-Fault Driver
Fault disputes are a common reason. After completing their investigations, the other driver’s insurance company may conclude that the police report incorrectly reflected their client’s involvement in the vehicle accident. A car accident insurance company may attempt to hold you accountable for the car crash instead. Insurance companies can also conclude that neither side was at fault in other situations, meaning you would lose out on an insurance settlement.
Please tell us if you genuinely believe that you were at fault. If you said something incriminating in a statement provided to the other insurance company, this is likely being used against you now. Did you tell them you only had soft tissue injuries when your medical records reported something else? Regardless of the explanation from the other driver’s insurance company, get a reputable vehicle accident attorney to file a correct and official claim for payment of your medical expenses as well as pain and suffering damages.
Your Medical Bills and Auto Repairs Are Too High
If the at-fault driver’s insurance company feels you are requesting more money than you are legally entitled to for the damages, they may refuse to pay you the total amount. This refusal usually happens when medical care is required. Because the insurance company could think you are seeking exorbitant medical treatment from a physician they disapprove of, they may push back. They could also contest the extent or price of the auto repairs you chose to have done and the coverage for a rental car during the interim. While you are claiming the total value, they may only want to pay a partial amount.
The Car Accident is Costing Them Too Much Overall
Are you sure you are the only injured person?
Remember: if the other driver has comprehensive coverage, the insurance company may have to issue two checks. Was the other driver injured? Was the other car damaged? The claims process is more expensive for car insurance companies in these instances. While the insurer looks out for their driver, they may ignore your collision claim. It would help if you had someone to look out for you. Louis W. Grande will fight for you.
Our Solution? Let’s Take It Up a Notch
The clock is ticking. The insurance company knows you have limited time to bring a claim to court. They wouldn’t mind delaying the claims process in perpetuity. So, we may have to call their bluff. A lawsuit is one way to take the problem to the next level. If you cannot deal with the insurance provider directly, you might sue the driver to encourage their insurance company to negotiate. Our team is allowed to depose the at-fault driver after filing a lawsuit and obtain a formal statement from them when they are sworn in. If you need to rent a car, the expenses should be covered by the other driver’s liability insurance, not yours. Let us create a strong argument on your side. Our firm’s experience with auto accident cases allows us to pressure the insurance provider.
Do I Need a Lawyer’s Help With My Own Insurance Company?
A lawsuit is another option if your insurance provider refuses to pay your claim. You will need to employ an insurance attorney for this. A strong case presented by a personal injury attorney might result in you receiving a settlement or winning a court decision. We are careful to submit personal injury claims by the deadline under Rhode Island law, so you won’t have to worry. Find out what your case is worth with a free consultation today.
Author Bio
Louis W. Grande is a Providence personal injury lawyer who founded his Rhode Island law firm of the same name in 2010. With more than 32 years of experience practicing law, he has successfully represented clients in a wide range of legal matters, including car accidents, premise liability, dog bites, medical malpractice, product liability, and other personal injury actions.
Louis received his Juris Doctor from the Hamline University School of Law and is a member of the Rhode Island Bar Association. He has received numerous accolades for his work, including being awarded Lifetime Achievement in 2017 by America’s Top 100 Attorneys and being named among the Top 100 Trial Lawyers and Top 25 Motor Vehicle Trial Lawyers in 2017.
