If your car accident claim was denied by the United States Automobile Association (USAA), you could still have options to recover damages from the at-fault driver or their insurer. A Lafayette car accident lawyer can help you file an appeal and continue to pursue compensation from the insurance company.
If bad faith insurance practices played a role in your denial, you could even take the insurance company to court.
You do not have to accept a refusal from USAA without fighting back. A lawyer will help you build a strong initial claim or appeal a denied claim. With legal guidance and support, you can recover the costs of your medical bills, loss of income, pain and suffering, and more.
Reasons USAA Might Give for Denying Your Claim
When the at-fault driver’s insurance company denies your claim, you should be provided with a written notice and an explanation of their decision. A claim denial letter addressing the common reasons someone in your position may not benefit from an auto insurance policy’s coverage can help you plan out your next moves.
If a car accident lawyer represents you, they can request a copy of your claim denial letter. After a careful closing reading of both the letter and the liable party’s accident insurance, we can help you build a strong case to refute their allegations.
The common allegations insurance companies can use to deny your access to liability coverage after an accident include the following:
- The policyholder’s insurance lapsed
- The evidence does not support liability
- You bear some or all responsibility
- The policy in question was misunderstood
- Failure to meet the statute of limitations
- Failure to provide appropriate documentation
- Bad faith insurance practices
You do not have to fight these allegations alone. Your lawyer can help you fight back against any of these reasons for denial.
Laborde Earles injury was great for me they took care of me very fast and professional. If for any reason I need legal help they will be who I use.
ClientWhen to Contact a Car Accident Lawyer
You are not obligated to work with car wreck lawyers to hold an insurance provider liable for your care after an accident. You have the opportunity to represent your own best interests as you fight to make a provider recognize a liable party’s insurance policy.
That said, reading through that insurance policy and fighting with a company can prove challenging if you’re contending with accident-related injuries.
What’s more, insurance adjusters may attempt to talk circles around you in an effort to irritate you out of essential coverage conversations. If you want to get ahead of both your post-accident exhaustion and an insurer’s bad-faith tactics, auto accident lawyers can help.
With all of this in mind, when’s the best time to contact a car accident lawyer? In general, the sooner you get in touch with an attorney, the better.
You can discuss what services you want our team to provide you throughout the claims process long before we first meet with an insurer. Early legal representation can prevent denials. An attorney who takes notes during your initial provider conversations can also make it easier for you to challenge a claim denial.
A Car Accident Lawyer Can Help You Pursue Compensation From USAA
The specific benefits of hiring a personal injury lawyer to represent you when you file an appeal can include:
- Reviewing all case-related correspondence
- Assessing the monetary value of your case
- Proving the at-fault party’s negligence
- Protecting you from bad faith insurance practices
- Conducting a thorough independent investigation
- Locating and interviewing witnesses to the accident
- Drafting and filing your case insurance claim or lawsuit
- Negotiating a fair and appropriate settlement for you
The insurance company’s interest is its bottom line. Your lawyer’s interest is in resolving your case in your favor and fighting for your right to a fair settlement.
I thank God for Digger & David. I don’t know what we would have done if it hadn’t have been for them.
Rick Smith | ClientTaking Up a Lawsuit Against USAA
Auto accident lawyers who witness wrongful insurance claim denials alongside a provider’s continued bad faith behavior can file a personal injury claim against an offending insurance provider.
The legal process can prove lengthy. Even so, it allows you the opportunity to demand that a provider list the reasons for claim denial before a judge. You can then challenge those reasons before allowing a judge and jury to determine what compensation you deserve for your accident-related losses.
Note that even if you file a personal injury claim against an offending provider, your case may not go to trial. The threat of publicized legal action may be from an at-fault car insurance company to take your request for damages more seriously. The company’s representatives may agree to meet with you in out-of-court negotiations to discuss your right to a fair settlement.
What to Expect From the Legal Process
Even when your civil claim addresses an auto insurance company, you can expect to go through certain legal beats. For example, you need first to investigate the company’s poor behavior. You must then present the court with evidence indicating that the auto insurance company has engaged in bad faith and you have legitimate reasons to demand a fair settlement.
The period of investigation needed to prove this point can take some time, though be warned. Louisiana’s personal injury statute of limitations still has a say over your filing timeline. You must bring your claim forward within two years of your car accident if you want to fight for fair compensation from an insurance commissioner.
Once you file your claim, your attorney can work with the insurance provider to either proceed with settlement negotiations or initiate the trial process.
Taking Legal Action Against the Party Liable for Your Car Accident
You may have as much of a right to assume legal action against a negligent driver as you do action against an insurance provider. You can meet with Lafayette car accident lawyers to discuss whether or not it would suit your best interest to open a personal injury claim against the driver while pursuing a case against a negligent insurance provider.
The process of filing a personal injury claim against an independent driver — or a related liable party — looks similar to the process of creating a claim targeting an insurance provider. You need evidence indicating that a driver’s vehicular negligence both violated the duty of care owed to you and saw you face unnecessary and avoidable economic losses.
This process sees you file a demand letter with the liable party. Afterward, the liable party has the chance to respond and challenge the claims you’ve issued against them. If the liable party does not respond, you may receive a fair accident settlement without going to court. Should the party challenge you, though, you may have to enter private negotiations or go to trial.
Fortunately, you have the expertise of Laborde Earles’ car accident attorneys on your side. Our team can step in and complete an investigation into a motorist’s misconduct while also outlining your right to a civil case against a negligent insurance company.
The reassurance from Digger and his staff gave me that renewed hope that it’s going to be okay down the road.
ClientYour Evidence File Can Support Your Right To Recover Compensation
An experienced car accident attorney can help you prove financial liability with a strong evidence file that can include the following:
- Police reports
- Car accident report
- Medical records and bills
- Income records
- Accident scene and injury photos
Your lawyer can also collect additional evidence, including witness statements and your written statement, to prove the toll the accident has taken on your physical health and your lifestyle.
Damages You Can Collect from USAA
If USAA and its claims adjusters deny your initial case accident claim, our personal injury law firm can help you refute their denial.
We can outline the damages we believe you deserve in an appeal letter, highlighting your right to some of the following damages:
- Medical bills
- Loss of income
- Loss of future earnings
- Property damage
- Property loss
- Physical impairment
- Physical disfigurement
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Emotional distress
Your attorney can assess your insurance claim and ensure your claim includes all recoverable damages. In addition to the damages listed above, you might also be entitled to punitive damages, wrongful death compensation, and compensation for bad-faith insurance practices.
They treated us like no other people would. Whenever we needed something they were there for us. I put my trust in them and I don’t regret it.
ClientA Personal Injury Lawyer Can Make Sure Time Stays On Your Side
A statute of limitations governs personal injury cases in all states. While complying with the statutory filing deadline is mandatory, it can also be difficult since the deadline can seem unclear. Certain factors unique to your case may also alter the deadline.
Our team can assess any unique factors in your case that may alter the timeline on which the state expects you to file a civil claim. In accounting for those factors, our team can make it easier for you to get your claim to a civil judge long before your statute of limitations expires.
That said, we can only act as quickly as you reach out to us. If you want to take legal action against an insurance provider, a negligent driver, or a related party, schedule a case evaluation with our attorneys today.
Get Legal Service and Support on a Contingency Fee Basis
Whether your case is resolved with an appeal or in court, the lawyer who represents you can do so on a contingency fee basis.
A contingency fee structure can allow you to:
- Pay nothing upfront or out of your pocket
- Compensate your attorney only when you receive compensation
- Pay no fees if your case does not result in financial recovery
At no initial costs, your lawyer can negotiate on your behalf or represent you in court and help you keep fighting for the best possible outcome for you. You can learn more about our firm’s contingency fee agreements during a free case evaluation with our experienced car accident lawyers.
Contact Our Case Review Team Today
Were you or a member of your family injured in a car accident with a driver whom USAA insured? If the insurance provider wrongfully denied your claim, call on personal injury attorneys to represent you throughout the appeals process. An experienced attorney can negotiate with an insurance agent on your behalf to minimize the long-term impacts of insurance bad faith practices.
At Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers, we take our legal obligations seriously. You can count on our motor vehicle crash lawyers to continually advocate for your right to maximum accident compensation.
Contact our case review team today to start building a compelling case file.
