Florida law mandates that drivers must carry $10,000.00 in PIP coverage, or personal injury protection. Florida is a “no-fault” state, which means that if a car accident happens and injuries occur, all injured parties must go through their own car insurance company, no matter who is at fault for the accident, and use their PIP coverage to pay for their medical bills. PIP coverage should not be confused with Bodily Injury Liability coverage, or BI coverage, which is the coverage that compensates you for your injuries as a result of another driver’s negligence. Since drivers in Florida are not required to carry BI coverage, Florida’s “no-fault” law is intended to make it easier for injured parties to seek medical treatment quickly. However, insurance companies are ultimately always looking out for their own bottom line, which means that they will find any excuse to undervalue or deny your car accident claim. In order to receive the full extent of the benefits you deserve for paying your premiums, you need to give insurance companies no excuse to do otherwise! Keep reading as we discuss some of the most common reasons car accident claims get denied or undervalued.
Why Your Insurance Company May Deny Your Insurance Claim
At our firm, Terry M. Rosenblum & Associates, we have decades of experience helping clients get the compensation they deserve. Here are some of the most common reasons insurance companies deny or undervalue claims:
- No immediate medical attention: After a car accident, the first thing you should do is to seek medical attention as soon as possible. Seeking immediate medical care isn’t just key for your health, but it is also an essential part of establishing your eligibility for PIP benefits, as well as proving the presence and extent of your injuries to the insurance company. In order to be eligible for your PIP benefits, you MUST seek medical treatment within 14 days of the car accident. Unfortunately, many car accident victims delay treatment and either lose out on their PIP benefits, or they give the insurance company an excuse to suggest that their injuries are either insignificant or they could have happened between the time of the accident and their initial medical exam.
- Insufficient documentation: Insurers often deny car accident injury claims due to insufficient evidence. You need to be able to prove your injuries to the insurance company, and potentially a jury if necessary. Make sure to keep track of all detailed medical records, any test results, diagnoses, receipts, and prescriptions. You should also have other evidence such as a police report of the accident, eyewitness information, emails to your workplace, etc.
- You waited too long to file the claim: To get compensation for your medical bills, you need to let your insurance company know as soon as possible that you’ve been injured in a car accident. Of course, it is best to first consult with an experienced lawyer from Terry M. Rosenblum & Associates before speaking with any insurance company. However, this doesn’t mean you should wait too long to file your claim, since this is a major reason your insurer could deny it.
- Incorrect or incomplete claim: This may seem obvious, but filing a formal claim incorrectly will obviously give your insurance company a reason to deny your claim. Filing a claim can be a confusing and complicated process, particularly if you’re reeling from the pain and trauma caused by the accident. If your claim was denied, go through the paperwork thoroughly.
Contact Us Today
If you feel your claim has been undervalued or unfairly denied, you may need a car accident attorney by your side. Call Terry M. Rosenblum & Associates to consult with a top Florida personal injury attorney today.