If you've recently been involved in a car accident you believe another party is liable for, it's possible and even likely that you'll be dealing with insurance companies as part of the aftermath here. As many people are well aware, however, insurance companies will often fight tooth and nail to avoid paying out claims wherever possible - and there are a few different tactics they may take to avoid paying your claim.
At the offices of William Rawlings & Associates, we're proud to assist clients around Salt Lake City, Provo, Draper and nearby parts of Utah with numerous personal injury attorney services, including for any car accident or other vehicle accident you're involved in. We provide assistance with every part of your case, including dealing with insurance companies in any way necessary. Let's take a look at some of the most common reasons insurers will often attempt to use as justification for not paying out a car accident claim, plus how you can be sure to avoid them through diligent actions and the help of our attorneys.
Police reports are often a key part of a car accident claim, as they can help provide proof of what happened and who was liable for the incident. Insurance companies may try to use any inconsistencies in the report or even failure to file one to claim that the whole case is uncertain - and therefore no payment should be made.
For instance, perhaps the police report for your case has a few discrepancies - such as one party's vehicle being listed incorrectly in the report. In this situation, your insurance company may claim that since the information isn't accurate, they cannot be sure who caused the accident and refuse to pay out for it.
To avoid this, it's important to always make sure you have an up-to-date copy of the police report you filed following your accident, and to take all measures necessary to make sure it is accurate. The attorneys at William Rawlings & Associates can help with this as well, ensuring everything in the report is correct and that any discrepancies can be remedied or addressed quickly.
If you or anyone in your vehicle sustains injuries in an accident that you believe another party is liable for, your insurance company may demand medical proof of the injury - such as a doctor's visit to verify it. But if they find out you failed to seek medical attention right away or took too long before doing so, they may use this as evidence that the injuries were not very severe and deny the claim.
Now, this can be a nuanced situation, as some minor injuries may not require medical attention - and it's important to be aware of this. However, if you or anyone else in the car have sustained any serious injuries, then you will need to seek medical help right away. This is also where a lawyer can be helpful. At William Rawlings & Associates we can provide guidance on when you should seek medical assistance and how to provide the appropriate evidence of injuries in your car accident claim.
In other cases, an insurance company may refuse to pay out a claim because they don't believe there is enough proof that the other party was at fault. This is another situation where having legal help can be invaluable - as we can assist you in gathering all the evidence necessary to prove liability and make sure your claim is paid out.
From photographic evidence of the accident scene to witness statements and more, we will work hard to make sure the insurance company has enough evidence that the other party was liable for the car accident in question.
Now, while the issues we've gone over to this point are often debatable in nature - and insurance companies will often try to stretch them as far as they can, even sometimes to unrealistic places - there are also some mistakes plaintiffs can make that may complicate things with insurers. A couple examples:
At William Rawlings & Associates, we understand how important it is for victims of car accidents in Utah to have their claims paid out by insurance companies so they can get back on track. That's why we work hard to make sure everything is done correctly and that all evidence is presented in a timely manner, ensuring insurance companies have no choice but to pay out your claim. Contact us today for more information on how our attorneys can help with any car accident claim you may be dealing with.