What if My Pedestrian Accident Claim Was Denied by MetLife?

If MetLife denies your pedestrian accident claim, you still have options for getting the compensation you deserve. Insurance companies like MetLife want you to think that a denied claim is the end of the road. But it is not. Whether you are filing with the driver’s MetLife policy or through your own, you can go through the appeals process and prove that your claim is valid. 

What Happens if MetLife Denies My Pedestrian Accident Claim?

In many cases, filing an insurance claim with the at-fault party’s insurance company is the first step. However, if you accept a denied claim from MetLife, you may not be able to get the compensation you need for your pedestrian accident injuries and damages. Or you lose precious time to continue the appeals process or take other legal action to recover much-needed compensation.

Reasons Why MetLife Denies Pedestrian Accident Claims

If you filed a claim with the driver’s MetLife policy, you might receive a denial notice for the following reasons:

• The driver’s MetLife auto policy lapsed due to not paying their premiums, and they did not have coverage at the time of the accident.
• The driver never filed a claim, which undermines your pedestrian accident claim.
• The driver denies that the accident happened, which causes MetLife to think your claim is fraudulent.
• The driver blames you for the accident, and MetLife believes them.
• You did not provide enough evidence to prove the driver was at fault, which could make MetLife believe their policyholder.
• You did not file your claim in a timely manner.

If you filed a claim with your own MetLife auto insurance policy due to the driver’s lack of coverage or if you were injured in a hit-and-run pedestrian accident, you might get a notice for one of these reasons:

• MetLife believes you should be seeking compensation through the driver’s policy.
• You do not have uninsured or underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage in your policy. 
• Your MetLife policy lapsed or was canceled, and you did not have coverage at the time of the accident.
• You did not file a claim in time.
• You did not provide enough evidence to prove that the accident occurred or that you suffered damages from the accident.

Your initial denial notice from MetLife may not give a specific reason. That is where a demand letter and a pedestrian accident lawyer can really help.

What Can I Do if MetLife Denies My Claim?

You can write and send a demand letter to MetLife to get a reason for your denial and to more formally state your claim. 

After you get the notice with an official reason for claim denial, you will need to file an official notice to appeal or otherwise follow the steps of MetLife’s appeals process. You might need to provide additional evidence to prove your claim, including witness testimony, certified medical records, and a police report. This is especially important if you did not include this information previously.

If MetLife accepts your claim, you can negotiate your settlement. However, you might also try to sue the insurer if they do not offer you a settlement that you believe is just or if they continue to deny your valid claim. 

How Can a Lawyer Help Me with My Denied MetLife Claim?

It is important to note that getting a denial is somewhat common for accident claims filed by victims. Getting a lawyer to handle the appeals process strengthens your argument and forces MetLife to take your claim seriously.

A pedestrian accident attorney can help you with every step of the claim denials process. That includes:

• Handling all calls, emails, and meetings with MetLife
• Writing the demand letter
• Filing an official appeal with MetLife
• Collecting more evidence
• Investigating your pedestrian accident
• Proving the MetLife-covered driver’s liability
• Filing a bad faith claim for further invalid denials
• Calculating your damages to determine a just settlement
• Negotiating your settlement
• Advising you on whether to take a settlement offer
• Filing a personal injury lawsuit against the driver and MetLife
• Representing you in court if necessary

Fighting a denial with MetLife or any insurance company can be stressful and complex. But a pedestrian accident lawyer is not afraid to fight large, powerful insurance companies and demand compensation for deserving victims. You can hire a pedestrian accident attorney to take this pressure off you and your family so you can focus on recovery.

Let a Pedestrian Accident Attorney Help with Your MetLife Claim Denial

We have more than 350 years of combined legal experience at Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers. We are proud to serve pedestrian accident victims and their families across Lafayette, Alexandria, Marksville, New Orleans, and other parts of the great state of Louisiana.

If you believe MetLife has wrongfully denied your claim for compensation, contact a pedestrian accident lawyer for your free consultation.