What If My Car Accident Claim Was Denied by Direct Auto Insurance?
If you have a car accident claim that Direct Auto Insurance has denied, you have the right to appeal that decision. The first step is to determine why they denied your claim. Sometimes the reason can be as simple as not providing enough information with your initial claim.
Suppose you are not sure how the appeals process works. In that case, seeking counsel from a car accident or personal injury lawyer might be beneficial. A law firm that routinely deals with insurance settlements knows what information is necessary to gain approval of a car accident claim.
Your First Step If Direct Auto Insurance Denied Your Car Accident Claim
Most insurance companies should notify you in writing when a claim is denied. With the internet, many companies rely on websites and phone apps to handle many communication processes. Check your email and the Direct Auto Insurance website message center if you have a pending claim.
The Direct Auto Insurance website has information outlining the process to file and check the status of a claim online. If you receive a denial notification, you must notify Direct Auto Insurance that you intend to appeal.
Preparing to Appeal the Decision
When preparing to appeal a claim denial, you should begin by determining why the claim was denied. One of the most common reasons for rejecting a claim is a lack of adequate information. A car accident attorney can assist you in compiling the correct information necessary for an appeal. Some of the things you will need include:
- The police report, photos, and videos from the accident scene
- Witness statements
- Contact information for all involved parties and witnesses
- Medical documentation regarding your injuries
- Estimates for repairs to your vehicle
In addition to the above, a car accident attorney can assist with the following additional information:
- Organizing all your documentation
- Adding medical expert testimony
- Contracting an accident reconstruction specialist
- Handling discussions and settlement negotiations with insurance companies
- If necessary, representing you in court
Building a solid claim is essential. An attorney familiar with personal injury law and car accidents can help.
Things You Should Avoid Following an Accident
The first thing to avoid after an accident is admitting fault. Never say or hint that you might be responsible for the accident. If you need to answer questions from responding police officers, stick to the facts. Use short phrases to describe the accident without speculating or elaborating (“I was driving this direction. They were driving in that direction. They turned, and the vehicles collided.”).
Avoid advertising your misfortunes on social media. It is easy to take a photo and make a post stating, “So this just happened.” Then your friends ask for details, and 30 comments later, you have offered too much information that an insurance company can use against you. Once you post it, you can’t take it back, so avoid posting it.
Things You Should Do After an Accident
Take a few moments and breathe. You’ve experienced something unexpected, frightening, and stressful. Let your body slow down. During an accident, your adrenaline is pumping. After that adrenaline rush, you may feel tired and lose some of the details of the accident.
Keep notes about everything. As soon as you get home, grab a notebook and keep all your notes, information, medical documentation, and estimates for vehicle repair in one place. When you contact Direct Auto Insurance to file your initial claim, collect as much information as possible before getting online or calling the customer service number.
Tips to File a Claim with Direct Auto Insurance
Direct Auto Insurance makes it relatively easy to file a claim. You may use their online claims system by logging into your MyAccount and following the prompts. You may also call their 24/7 claim line. They even offer a 24/7 virtual assistant chatbot or live agent chats during regular business hours if you have questions about your claim.
Before beginning the claims process, you should have the following information at hand:
- Policy number
- Police report (this may not be available immediately)
- Names, phone numbers, and additional contact info for other drivers, passengers, and witnesses
- Your vehicle information, including make, model, color, and year
- The license plate and registration info for your vehicle
- A list of damages to your vehicle
- The current location of your vehicle
- Any photographs you have from the accident scene
You will also need the following information about the other driver and vehicles involved:
- Type of car, including make, model, color, and year
- Their insurance information, including policy number and insurance company
- Photographs from the accident scene of any damages to their vehicle
- Description of the damage to their car
Suppose you did not have much of this information when filing your initial claim. In that case, you should include it in your appeal request.
Organizing Your Claim to Get Good Results
When it comes to organizing your information after Direct Auto Insurance has denied a car accident claim, Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers can help. Take advantage of our free case evaluation to discuss your case and ask us how we will fight for your compensation.