Dealing with an insurance company after you have been injured can be very difficult. If you have insurance, it is difficult to understand all of the procedures and rules that you must follow. If you do not have insurance, you may not know where to turn to find coverage for your injuries. To deal with insurance companies and make sure that you get all of the compensation and coverage that you are entitled to, you need an experienced auto insurance lawyer in Montgomery on your side.
Our lawyers at The Vance Law Firm understand that auto accident claims are sometimes either settled for a significantly lower amount than the case is actually worth or are outright denied by the insurance company. If an auto accident occurs and a claim is denied, the policyholder can face a serious financial burden.
For such individuals, it is vital to understand the coverage provided by the policies and to seek the assistance of a lawyer that can help them dispute the actions of the insurance company. Our team of auto insurance claim dispute lawyers have vast experience in handling auto insurance claim disputes as well as recovering compensation that our clients are legally entitled to.
If you have previously submitted a claim to an auto insurance company and payment was denied or you received an unreasonably low settlement, you need to fill out our case review form today. Our Montgomery car accident lawyers will review the claim and determine whether or not you have a claim dispute against your insurance company and all this will be at no obligation or cost to you.
Common Questions Regarding Auto Insurance Our Attorneys Can Answer
Some of the insurance questions that we frequently answer for our clients include:
- What are my options if I was injured by an underinsured or uninsured motorist?
- Do I have to use my own personal health insurance if I have car insurance?
- My case settled and now my insurance company wants payment. Do I have to pay them?
- Can I use the insurance policy of someone else in my household?
- My insurance company (or the other side’s company) is denying my claim. What can I do?
- Is there anything that I can do if my medical records say one thing, but my doctor told me something different?
- What is a medical lien?
- What is personal injury protection (PIP)?
While answering questions such as these and representing you, we back our service with The V Guarantee — an insurance lawyer will strive to get you every dollar that you are entitled to and do not collect a fee unless we first obtain a recovery for you.
What Damages Will Auto Insurance Cover After an Accident?
Auto insurance is a type of insurance that covers trucks, cars, motorcycles, trucks, as well as other street-legal vehicles. The primary purpose of this type of insurance is providing financial protection in case of an accident, and against liability, that may also result from accidents as well as other incidents in the vehicle.
Auto insurance refers to the contract that exists between you and your insurance company, where you agree to be paying a premium every month. In exchange, the insurance company agrees to pay for losses suffered in case of an accident, as long as your specific policy covered those losses.
Auto insurance is required by law in most states and there are even penalties or fees imposed for driving without it. Auto insurance coverage depends on several key factors, which include the policies offered by your insurance company, the type of policy that you have purchased, as well as the specifics of the policy.
Auto insurance covers 6 basic types of damage:
Liability Coverage
It protects a driver that harms a fellow driver, or their property, while operating an insured vehicle. In most states, liability insurance is mandatory and there’s usually a minimum amount that you are required to purchase.
Auto liability coverage provides two main forms of protection:
Body Damage Liability: It refers to the injuries that another person sustains if you cause and auto accident.
Property Damage Liability: It refers to damage to property that results from an auto accident, which includes but isn’t limited to damage done to the other driver’s vehicle.
Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage
Auto insurance of some sort is mandatory in most states, but uninsured motorists are still on the roads causing issues and accidents for other road users. Uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage will protect you in case you are ever involved in an accident with a driver with either insufficient auto insurance coverage or no insurance at all.
Comprehensive Coverage
Comprehensive coverage is essentially a form of insurance coverage that helps you in case you are ever involved in an accident that isn’t a collision. It helps pay for the replacement or repairs made to your vehicle in case it is stolen, sustains damage in an event that isn’t a collision, or damage from things such as theft, fire, falling objects, and vandalism. Obtaining and maintaining comprehensive coverage is required when leasing or financing a vehicle, but this form of coverage is otherwise usually optional.
Collision Coverage
It can help pay for replacement or repair costs in case your vehicle is involved in a collision with another vehicle or object, or if your vehicle rolls over. Collision coverage protects your own vehicle, while property damage liability coverage typically pays for the damage done to the other vehicle. It is usually optional coverage.
Medical Payments Coverage
It can be part of an auto insurance policy, and may cover your medical expenses or those of your passenger in case of an auto accident that results in injuries. You would be covered regardless of who was ultimately responsible for the accident, whether it was you or the other driver. It is optional and actually not offered in every state, but it is a requirement in others.
Personal Injury Protection
It is also referred to as PIP coverage. Personal Injury Protection is a component of an auto insurance policy that covers medical expenses related to an auto accident, irrespective of which driver was at fault and often covers lost wages too. It s only offered in some states, while in other states, PIP is required as a policy add-on.
What Are Some Examples of Auto Insurance Conflict?
The most effective way to avoid auto insurance conflict is thoroughly understanding the coverage, details, and limitations of your auto insurance policy before you sign a contract with the insurance company. Conflict of interest is one of the best examples of auto insurance conflict, or when two drivers involved in an accident are covered by one insurance company.
The other common auto insurance conflict is when a suit is filed against an insured client, and the suit contains allegations that are within and without the policy coverage, or if the suit filed against the insured seeks damages that are greater than the agreed upon policy limits. Other examples include:
- Liability issues between drivers and other passengers
- Disputes regarding the insurance rates, which include signing a contract after being assured a certain rate when signing the contract and being charged a different rate
- Issues regarding insurance fraud, which include false registration, vehicle dumping, inflated repair costs, etc.
- The insurance provider denying coverage or payments in case of an accident
- Breach of contract by either party
- Cancellation disputes
The best way to ensure that you avoid auto insurance conflict is ensuring that you are clear on the policy terms and have everything in writing.
Do I Have the Right Type of Coverage to File a Legitimate Claim?
The claims process can be much simpler if you have a good understanding of the coverage available under your policy. Auto insurance policies can include 6 different types of coverage, which include:
- Comprehensive: covers losses due to theft, fire, or floods
- Property Damage Liability: covers damage inflicted on another party’s property
- Personal Injury protection/medical Payments: It applies to the treatment of injuries of the driver and passenger in your own vehicle
- Uninsured Motorist Coverage: It applies when you are struck by a hit-and-run or uninsured driver
- Collision: It covers damage to your vehicle after being involved in an accident with another vehicle
- Bodily Injury Liability: It applies to injuries somebody else sustained at your fault
In some instances, your insurance company can still limit your payout even if you are covered by the right type of insurance. In such situations, you need to get in touch with an auto insurance dispute lawyer to help you determine whether it is possible for you to file a dispute claim against your insurance provider.
Why Did My Claim Get Rejected and What Are My Options?
If your claim was denied, you need to remember that insurance companies are actually for-profit businesses that can easily manipulate the facts of your claim or even look for loopholes in the contract you signed with them to avoid paying up
Our lawyers at The Vance Law Firm have handled claims on behalf of policyholders that were told that they weren’t entitled to compensation for property damage or injuries sustained since their losses weren’t as substantial as reported.
In other instances, we have come across insurance companies incorrectly assigning fault to our clients to increase premiums and avoid payment. Companies that act in bad faith or handle claims in an unfair manner are most likely to unjustifiably try to deny your claims.
If you believe that your claim was handled unfairly by an insurance company, get in touch with an auto insurance dispute lawyer to review your case.
Our team of expert lawyers have relevant experience handling insurance dispute claims and are sufficiently equipped to deal with the tactics that insurance companies use to avoid honoring valid claims. Our lawyers will examine your policy to make sure that you receive a fair payment for the claim.
What Should I Be Aware of Before Suing My Auto Insurance Provider?
You have the right to file a lawsuit against your insurance company as a consumer. However, you will be required to prove that you actually have a valid claim and you will have to formally file a civil suit against your insurer.
Several laws are in place for ensuring that insurers don’t abuse their power and position to take advantage of clients. In addition, most states actually have minimum auto insurance requirements, which means that the laws are quite stringent.
The two main fields of law that come into play when suing an auto insurance company are contract law and consumer protection law. Here are some of the most common insurance claims:
Bad Faith
Bad faith may include misrepresentation of benefits and coverage, intentionally or unnecessarily delaying the claims process, refusing to pay a claim even when liability is relatively clear, or advising a policyholder not to hire a lawyer to pursue the claim against an insurer. The most prevalent examples of bad faith are improperly denied claims.
Unfair Competition
Unfair competition generally refers to any unlawful, unfair, or fraudulent business practice or act. It may include misappropriation and false advertising. This extends to deceptive, unfair, misleading, or untrue advertisements.
Breach of Contract
Breach of contract lawsuits generally requires that policyholders just need to show that the insurer failed to follow the terms of the policy.
Antitrust
Antitrust laws are used to regulate how companies are allowed to charge customers for services offered. It promotes fair competition and regulates businesses for the benefit of consumers.
You must always make sure that your claim is valid since it will be very difficult to win against an insurer since they have a lot of money and power backing them up. Furthermore, if they refuse to pay for an auto insurance claim, they almost always have a god reason for doing so. You will have to consider whether suing your insurer is ultimately worth the effort.
Do I Require a Lawyer for a Conflict Regarding My Auto Insurance Coverage?
You can resolve some conflicts with your auto insurance provider with some simple communication. However legal action will be required for some conflicts. Each state also has different laws that govern the filing of lawsuits against auto insurance providers.
Our skilled and knowledgeable auto insurance lawyers at The Vance Law Firm are aware of the laws and will help you gain a better understanding of your policy. We can also determine whether you have a valid claim against your auto insurer as well as the options available to you depending on the specifics of your case. To schedule a Free Consultation, call us today!
Contact A Montgomery Auto Insurance Lawyer
At The Vance Law Firm, our attorneys — Montgomery personal injury lawyers who aggressively advocate for our Alabama clients and stand up for their rights — have years of experience effectively dealing with insurance companies in personal injury claims.
To make sure that you have us on your side who will stand up to the insurance companies and help you understand all of your options, schedule a free initial consultation with one of our Montgomery auto insurance lawyers. Contact an experienced insurance lawyer at The Vance Law Firm, by calling 334-333-3333 or by filling out our online contact form.