If you have been involved in a car accident, you may be wondering if your insurance company is really looking out for your best interests. After all, they are supposed to protect you from financial losses and help you recover from your injuries. However, you should be aware that your Kennewick, Washington, insurance company is not always on your side.
Common mitigation tactics
It may come as a surprise to some, but it is not just the other driver’s insurance company that acts in bad faith. Your own insurance company may do so as well. There are several possible bad faith tactics. The two most common tactics are ignoring or unreasonably delaying your car accident claim or requesting excessive or unnecessary documentation or evidence. Another common tactic is also quick, lowball settlements.
Car insurance companies may also dispute liability or fault. Your insurance company may blame you and use that finding against you. They also may use recorded statements or medical records against you or threaten increases in your premiums or cancel your policy to get you to drop your claim.
Car insurance policy limits
This is not to say that all denials are wrongful. Sometimes, a denial may be reasonable. For example, all car insurance policies have limits, or maximum coverage amounts. And, if the damages that result from a car accident exceeds these maximums, your insurance company will deny all amounts above those limits.
Pre-existing condition
If you had a medical condition or injury before the car accident that was aggravated by the accident, the car insurer may deny your claim on the grounds that your condition was not caused by the accident. Of course, this is, generally, not allowed.
Fraudulent or exaggerated claims
If the Kennewick, Washington, insurer suspects that you lied or exaggerated about any aspect of your claim, such as how the car accident happened, who was involved, what injuries you suffered, etc., they may deny your claim. Essentially, the insurance company would claim that you committed fraud or misrepresentation.
But, the key is that you do not have to take these accusations and eat these costs. You can contact a Kennewick, Washington, lawyer to fight for your rights.