If you’ve ever had a car accident, then you know the frustration of dealing with insurance companies. The stress of filing an auto insurance claim can be enough to make anyone go mad, especially when it comes to dealing with false or unreasonably denied claims. Most people don’t realize that they have options when it comes to dealing with these situations.
Here are five tips for disputing false insurance claims.
1. Know your rights.
Before you call the insurance company and start disputing a claim, it is important to first be familiar with your policy. Know what you are entitled to by law and understand what kind of coverage you have. For example, if renting an apartment and signing a lease agreement, read the fine print carefully before agreeing on when exactly their insurance kicks in. This way, when issues arise later on down the line (like after an accident), then it will be easier for you to show that there was no coverage at all before any incident occurred. Similarly, if renting out your home as part of Airbnb or similar sites like VRBO/HomeAway then review all terms including cancellation policies as well as insurance coverage before signing up
2. Contact your insurance company.
If you suspect a false insurance claim, contact the insurance company of the person who filed it. Talk to their claims adjuster and explain your situation. Let them know that you feel the claim was false, and ask for a denial of it. If they won’t help you, contact your own insurance company and explain what happened—they may be able to help you get reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses as well as any deductible or copayment amounts paid out of pocket.
3. Don’t admit anything to the other party’s insurance company.
Before you talk to the insurance company, consider how the conversation may proceed. An insurer might try to convince you that you are responsible for the accident or that your injuries were not caused by it. Don’t admit anything and don’t agree to any settlement options without talking them through with your attorney first.
Your attorney will keep track of all communication between yourself and the other party’s insurance company so that they can accurately represent you if needed during litigation later on.
4. Let your own insurance company know if the other party makes contact with you.
If the other party’s insurer contacts you, make sure that you can state the facts clearly. Don’t admit anything to them. If they ask for information about the accident that isn’t already part of their claim file, don’t give it to them—this could be used against you later on. It’s also important to keep records of all correspondence between yourself and your own insurance company as well as any contact with the other party’s insurer.
5. Send the denial letter from the other party’s insurance company to your own insurer.
You’re in luck. Because your own insurer is the one that has to pay for any false claims, you can dispute it with them first. It’s best to send a letter from the other party’s insurance company directly to your own insurer and include a copy of the denial letter in your own mail.
This will help prove that this claim is not valid and save you time down the line as well as make sure you get paid by your own insurance company if they agree that it was false or fraudulent.
If you’ve tried to resolve your dispute with the insurance company and they’re not willing to compromise or help you, then it’s time to take action. The first step is to try disputing the claim directly with your insurer by writing them a letter outlining why you feel the claim was made fraudulently or inaccurately and what other evidence there is that supports this view.
We hope that these five tips help you better understand disputing false insurance claims. While it is a very unfortunate situation, if you ever find yourself struggling, then we suggest that you contact our team at Holman Law Firm.
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