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Can insurance companies outright deny car accident claims?

On Behalf of | Sep 12, 2022 | Car Accidents |

The fallout of a motor vehicle accident can be devastating. You may face extensive property damage that cannot be repaired. You could also suffer potentially catastrophic accident injuries like spine or brain damage.

You probably expect fair treatment from the insurers involved in your accident, even the other driver’s insurer. Unfortunately, your hopes may be misplaced. The other party’s insurance company may offer a poor settlement or deny the claim outright for the following reasons:

Missed filing deadlines

Insurance policies contain details on how long you have to file a claim after a crash, but such deadlines are not generally made public. You can ask the other driver’s insurance provider for this information. If you miss the filing window, there may be little you can do about a claim denial.

Insurance policy exclusions

Most companies reject insurance claims if a natural disaster or “act of God” (sudden storms, etc.) caused the crash. Claims denials based on exclusions can occur if the involved insurers attribute your harm to supposedly unavoidable conditions.

Policy has lapsed

Unfortunately, compensation might be out of reach if the other motorist allowed their insurance to lapse. If you do not have uninsured motorist coverage, you may need to think outside the box for possible compensation.

For example, you could sue the other driver directly. However, it is wise to seek legal counsel to determine if it is worth the effort to initiate a lawsuit. If the person has few assets, it probably isn’t worth the costs of litigating the matter.

Sometimes, insurance companies break the rules and undercut or deny claims in bad faith. If you believe this is an issue, consider learning more about motor vehicle accidents and California insurance compensation laws.

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