If you been involved in a car accident in New Bedford, MA, contacting a car accident lawyer in New Bedford might make the difference in the amount of compensation that you receive. Every year, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners compiles a list of the most common complaints and it comes as no surprise that handling of complaints is the number one complaint. In 2019, 18% of all complaints were due to unsatisfactory claim amounts offered by insurance companies. 17% of all complaints were due to delayed compensation for a personal injury claim. 14% were due to insurance companies denying claims.
Accident and health insurance disputes made up 39% of complaints. Car insurance is at 32% while homeowners’ is a little over 20%.
It is crucial that you are aware of the insurance category that receives the highest amount of complaints. For instance, if you are pursuing a car accident claim, you have to be vigilant because this is the category that has the highest number of complaints.
If you feel your insurer has made a lowball offer, they’ve denied your claim or they are purposely delaying paying your claim, we have four steps you can take to tackle the issue.
Keep Records
Records of your medical bills, pictures of your injuries, a copy of your payslip, a copy of the police report, recorded witness statements, and pictures of the accident scene go a long way to proving your claim when an insurer disputes it.
It also helps to keep a record of who you talked to and what you discussed with the insurance company in case you need to prove that the insurance company is purposely making the claims process harder than it needs to be.
Utilize the Services of a State Insurance Regulator
Taking your insurer to court should be a last resort because taking this step might tie up your claim in court for years. If you are looking to get paid quickly in order to settle your medical bills you should first attempt to work with your insurance agent and document the process. If your insurer gives you a hard time, you can then seek the services of your state insurance regulator. Alternatively, you can also seek the services of a car lawyer in New Bedford to help you fast-track the claims process.
Familiarize Yourself with Your Rights and Your Insurance Policy
It’s important that you review your current insurance policy so as to know what is expected whenever you make a claim. Details such as what is covered, the process of making a claim, how soon a claim must be submitted, and the maximum amount you can recover.
It’s important to have your car accident lawyer in New Bedford present when the insurer interviews you, especially if the amount you are seeking is sizeable. They will also be able to protect your rights in case your insurer disputes your case.
An insurance company is obligated to:
Give you the benefit of doubt. They should be looking for reasons to find coverage; not to deny it. Unfortunately, most insurers lose sight of this rule and instead consider their own interests first before the policyholders.
Explain the available benefits and explain coverage to you. However, some insurance companies view the claims process as a battle between the policyholder and them.
Fairly investigate your claim. There have been several cases where insurers don’t bother to investigate claims in any meaningful way such as obtaining medical records, interviewing witnesses, or even looking at police reports.
Promptly pay a claim. In Massachusetts, an insurer is expected to pay a claim within 30 days after it has been submitted. Failure to do so gives you the right to file for a personal injury lawsuit.
Explain why they denied your claim. You have a right to know why your claim was denied and then from there, you can decide the way forward.
Be Persistent
It can be an extremely frustrating and time-consuming process getting an insurance company to honor their claims obligation. Most of the time insurance companies hold up their end of the deal by handling the cases correctly and expediting the claims process if the cases are straight forward. However, challenges sometimes do come up and it is therefore very important for individuals to do frequent follow-ups with their insurer.
Questions? Talk to Our Car Accident Lawyer in New Bedford for a Free Consultation
You do not have to face your insurer alone. Talk to an attorney from our New Bedford office in a free consultation to learn how we can help you. Our car accident lawyer in New Bedford is available 24/7 and is more than happy to help.
