If you were injured in a bike accident and your claim was denied by USAgencies, you can appeal the decision. However, denial is not the end of the road. If you believe your insurance claim was unduly denied and you suffer from severe injuries, medical expenses, and other losses, an attorney can help you fight back through the appeals process.
Find Out Why Your Bike Accident Claim Was Denied
The basis of any appeal is understanding why the claim was denied. Sometimes denials are based on valid reasons; however, this is not always the case. Insurance companies pride themselves on saving money. They may find any reason to deny your claim, even if it is unjustified. Most of the time, they hope you accept their decision and do not pursue it any further. The end result is they just saved thousands of dollars, but if that money should have been rightfully paid out to you, you owe it to yourself to dig into why you were denied.
USAgencies should have sent a letter addressing its reasons for denying your claim. If they have not, you can request that the company send you a letter explaining why they denied you.
Reasons Your Claim May Have Been Denied
Some reasons insurers might deny your bicycle accident claim are:
- Policy lapsed – The at-driver may have had liability coverage but ceased payments at some point, leaving their insurance policy to lapse. If the driver who hit you is no longer insured, you will not be able to file a claim against their policy.
- The at-fault driver was not covered under the insurance policy – Some drivers may be excluded from an insurance policy’s coverage. If an at-fault driver is listed as a “named driver exclusion” on the insurance policy, you will not be able to file a claim against the policy. If the car was stolen or otherwise driven by someone who did not have permission to use it when the accident occurred, the insurance company may deny your claim.
- You are at fault for the bike crash – If USAgencies believed you caused the accident, they would deny your claim because they are not liable for damages under those circumstances.
- Not enough evidence of liability – Even if they are not blaming you for the accident and subsequent injuries, an insurer may believe that their insured driver was not to blame. They could believe some other party or reason led to the crash, absolving it of liability. You will need to show better evidence of liability in the crash.
- Your injuries were pre-existing – If the insurance company believed you already had the injuries you are claiming, they might deny your claim.
- You waited too long to seek medical treatment – Waiting too long to seek medical help could send the impression that you are not injured to the degree you claim. The insurer may deny it based on that.
- Paperwork mistakes – Incorrectly filling out forms and supplying false or inaccurate information can result in insurance claim denials.
A bicycle accident attorney can assist you in obtaining a copy of the denial letter if you have not received one. Further, we can help you understand why you were denied and work with you to appeal the decision.
For a free legal consultation, call (337) 777-7777
Making a Strong Case for Compensation During Appeals
Appealing an insurance claim denial usually means building a strong case for compensation. It is possible that the information and evidence you supplied in your initial claim was not compelling enough to warrant compensation, according to the insurer. A bicycle accident lawyer can help you gather the right evidence to prove your injuries, losses, and the at-fault driver’s negligence. To strengthen your claim, we will seek out additional evidence like:
- Video footage of the crash
- Photos of your injuries and property damage
- Crash report from police
- Medical records and reports detailing the severity of your injuries and prognosis of your recovery
- Documentation from your job indicating wage loss due to the accident
- Eyewitness testimony
- Expert testimony from medical practitioners, economic planners, life care planners, or crash reconstructionists
If you can obtain additional evidence on your own, you can write a letter to the insurance company addressing their denial. Refute their points by providing facts and indicating the evidence you have. However, it is usually much less stressful and overwhelming to have an attorney fight on your behalf instead.
USAgencies May be Acting in Bad Faith
Per Louisiana Revised Statute § 22:1973, insurers are required to adjust claims in a timely and fair manner. They must also make a reasonable effort to settle them. Specific actions by the insurance company are considered bad faith. Bad faith essentially means an insurer acts without reasonable cause or unethical intentions. If USAgencies denies your claim for bad faith reasons, the company is acting illegally, and a lawyer will work to hold them accountable.
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Contact a Bicycle Accident Lawyer if You Received a Claim Denial from USAgencies Insurance
If USAgencies denied your bicycle accident claim, do not count yourself out— contact Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers. A bike accident lawyer at our firm can appeal your denial. We will conduct a detailed investigation into your accident and gather evidence necessary to demand the compensation you deserve. Call today for your free case evaluation.
Call or text (337) 777-7777 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
