When Insurance Doesn’t Help After A Utah Car Crash

Car crashes can happen without warning. Many times, these accidents are extremely terrifying and alarming for those involved. When you are not responsible for the crash, it can be very frustrating and troublesome. You have proper insurance coverage, and you may expect that other drivers have the same. After the crash takes place, you may expect that the insurance provider will step up to help you.

However, this is not always the case. If you have been injured in a terrible car crash, and you are not being helped by the insurance company like you believe you should, you need to know you are not alone. This article will outline the steps to take when an insurance provider is not helping you after being injured in a car accident.

Another Insurance Company Disputes The Claim

You are sure that you are not at fault for the car crash, and you even have witnesses and other information to back up your claim. Even still, the insurance provider of the other driver is disputing your accident claim. Obviously, they are doing this so their customer will not have to be held liable for the crash, forcing them to pay the claim. Because of this, it is important that you file a police a report, contact witnesses, and document the scene of the crash to back up your case.

The last thing you want to do is just give in to the pressure of the insurance provider and give up. This is exactly what the insurer wants you to do. Be sure to stay on their case, and when it becomes too difficult or you believe you may need some help, call an experienced Salt Lake City car crash lawyer. In some cases, just hearing from a lawyer may be enough to get an insurance provider to start doing what they should have been doing all along.

You Are Not Sure Who Is at Fault

There are moments when no one is really certain who is liable following a car accident. In normal situations, you should be able to file a claim with your insurance carrier, recover the damages that you are owed, and have the two insurance companies battle it out. However, this is not always what happens. In some cases, you are the one who is caught in the middle of this fight.

You shouldn’t be forced to drown in medical costs and property damage repairs or be left waiting for what you are owed following a crash. If the insurance carrier is not doing much to make you whole after an accident, you may need an experienced personal injury attorney who can fight for your case.

Low Settlement Amount

Insurance providers, ultimately, want to pay you as little as they can for your claim. Their final goal is to save money, even if you are injured in a crash and are not at fault. The insurance carrier of the at-fault driver is meant to cover the costs of your medical bills, up to the set limits on the policy. This means that you will have to pay whatever is remaining. In certain cases, drivers may not even have state-mandated insurance coverage. In this case, you won’t get anything unless you have personal injury protection (PIP) insurance coverage.

When you do not receive any compensation for your medical bills, the only option you have is to file a personal injury claim. Talk to a Salt Lake City car accident lawyer who can examine the details of your case and offer advice on what to do next. 

Insurance Provider Is Acting in Bad Faith

Again, the job of the insurance provider is to save money. They want to pay as little as they can for your personal injury claim. Before you accept an offer for a settlement for a totaled vehicle or any other property damage after a crash, you should do your own research and not rely solely on the numbers provided by the insurance adjuster. Take your car to a mechanic and get an estimate for your repairs. Look at the Kelley Blue Book value and get an idea of what your car may be worth.

When you are offered a settlement that you think is too low, you can try to negotiate or you can contact a personal injury lawyer who can do it for you. Never settle than less for the damages you are owed. The smallest amount offered by the insurance carrier will not help repair or replace your car, let alone make you whole after a bad collision. 

Medical Expenses and Bills Are Not Being Paid

Insurance carriers have to comply with certain regulations when processing claims, but this doesn’t mean they always do. If you are dealing with an insurance provider that is acting in “bad faith,” you are the one who loses in the end. There are some things that could be considered “bad faith acts.” These include:

• Denying your claim without telling you why;
• Not paying your claim on time;
• Refusing to pay a claim covered by your policy; and
• Requiring unreasonable measures on your part to process the claim — usually in the form of unnecessary paperwork.

If you believe that your insurance carrier is acting in bad faith, you could be able to pursue legal resource against them. This is usually above and beyond any usual legal action, and you may want to look further into the case. It is in your favor to consult with a qualified Salt Lake City personal injury lawyer immediately to better understand your legal options. 

Salt Lake City Area Vehicle Collisions

There are nearly 9 million car accidents every year in the United States, resulting in an estimated 3 million people being injured. 2 million of those injured sustain permanent injuries, which require prolonged medical treatments and other expenses. 
The expert Utah auto accident attorneys at Siegfried & Jensen have been helping the people of Utah recover after a crash for over 30 years. Give us a call at 801-845-9000 if you or a loved one has been injured by a negligent driver.