What if My Car Accident Claim Was Denied by Farmers Insurance?
If you filed a car accident claim with Farmers Insurance and your claim was denied, you have the option to appeal the decision. Insurance companies frequently deny claims on the first submission. They may try to avoid paying claims and hope you won’t fight them.
Why Does Farmers Insurance Deny Claims?
Farmers Insurance began operations in 1928. It currently has more than 19 million individual policies and serves more than 10 million households.
Like many other insurance companies, Farmers Insurance often denies claims. Some reasons for denying claims are valid, while others seem like nothing more than excuses designed to stall the process. Many reasons for the denial involve a lack of information, so filing an appeal to supply the information may be enough to overturn the original decision. A few additional reasons a claim may receive denial include:
- Your policy has lapsed – This may occur when the policyholder doesn’t pay the monthly premiums on time. Typically you will receive a written notice to correct this before the policy is canceled. Still, sometimes the notices and checks cross in the mail, causing an unintentional lapse.
- You provided false or incomplete information – If you supply incorrect information for the policy, no valid policy exists. Solving this problem may be as simple as correcting an address or other information.
- The damages are not covered under the policy – For example, this may happen when you file a claim for collision damages under a policy that only covers basic liability.
- You failed to report your accident quickly – Most insurance companies stipulate that you should report your accident as soon as possible after the accident.
- An unauthorized driver was operating the vehicle at the time of the accident – Insurance companies reserve the right to exclude certain people from using a car they insure.
- The driver was using drugs or alcohol – Negligent or reckless driving may absolve an insurance company of liability.
- Your claim is suspected as fraudulent – This may occur when your stated injuries seem to have a cause other than the car accident.
- You delayed medical treatment – Waiting to seek medical treatment gives the insurance company the impression that your injuries are not as bad as you may claim.
How to Appeal the Decision to Deny Your Claim
An insurance company may attempt to find any reason to deny your claim. Sometimes it may be a lack of adequate information, a dispute over the degree of your injuries, or a lack of evidence establishing fault. In these cases, filing an appeal to supply the additional information may be enough to reverse the original denial.
When you decide to appeal your denial, the first step is to notify Farmers Insurance of your intent to appeal. If you received a notice of denial, the information regarding making this notification should be included in the letter. The letter will also specify why your claim was denied.
In many cases, seeking legal counsel to assist with your appeal may benefit you. A car accident attorney familiar with personal injury and vehicle insurance claims can help streamline your appeal. Some of the tasks they can help with include:
- Obtaining the police report and any available photos and videos of your accident
- Gathering and organizing medical documentation of your injuries
- Outlining the continuing impact your injuries will have on your life and family
- Conducting a complete investigation of the accident to determine fault
- Discussing your injuries with medical experts to determine their severity
- Using an accident reconstruction specialist
- Interviewing witnesses and obtaining statements
- Handling all discussions with insurance companies
- Negotiating for the best possible outcome
- Representing you in court if necessary
A personal injury law firm will allow you to concentrate on healing from your injuries. At the same time, they will do the legwork to build a solid claim for you.
Understanding the Process of Filing a Claim with Farmers Insurance
The more information you can provide when you file your initial claim, the better. At the very least, you will need:
- Names, phone numbers, and insurance information from all involved drivers
- Names and contact information of witnesses
- A copy of the police report with the names of responding officers
It is also very helpful to write down what you remember from the accident as soon as possible, while it is fresh.
Tips That May Improve Your Car Accident Claim
If you read this before an accident, you can use the following tips to file your initial claim. If you’re working on an appeal for a denied claim, the following info will help you fill in the blanks in your initial claim. The more information you can provide, the lower the chance of a claim denial.
- Check for injuries
- Move to a safe location
- Call 911 or local emergency services
- Exchange information with other people involved or witnessing the accident
- Take photos of the scene, the vehicles, and the injuries
- Note the weather and road conditions
- Note the time of the accident
- Write down notes about the accident before you forget details
The claims process begins with letting Farmers Insurance know as much information as possible about your accident. It would help if you kept notes, including the above information, when filing your initial claim. Write down details about any contact you have with an insurance claims adjuster or representative.
Where to Turn for Assistance with a Car Insurance Claim Appeal
If you need help filing an appeal for a car accident claim that Farmers Insurance denied, Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers is ready to fight for you. Our car accident team has the experience to guide you through the appeals process. We will build a case for you and fight for your compensation. Contact us for your free case evaluation.
