What to Do When Insurance Doesn’t Help After an Auto Accident

August 16, 2018 | Ed Bernstein
What to Do When Insurance Doesn’t Help After an Auto Accident

An auto accident that comes out of nowhere can be jarring and terrifying. When it’s not your fault, it’s also frustrating and annoying. You carry insurance, and you expect other drivers to do the same. Once the accident happens, you also expect the insurance companies to do their job. But that’s not always what happens. If you’ve been in a bad auto accident, and you’re getting the runaround from insurance companies, you’re not alone. Here’s what to do when the insurance company doesn’t help you after the accident.

Other Insurance Company Disputes Claim

Other Insurance Company Disputes ClaimYou’re positive that you’re not at fault for your car accident, and you’ve got witnesses and information to back you up. But the other driver’s insurance company is disputing the claim. Of course, they are because they don’t want their customer to be at fault or have to pay the claim. This is why it’s important to have a police report, witnesses, and even pictures to make your case. The worst thing you can do is just give up. That’s what the insurance company wants you to do. Stay on them, and when it gets to be too much or you realize you need help, contact a car accident attorney. Sometimes just hearing from an attorney is enough for an insurance company to do what they’re supposed to do.

Not Sure Who’s at Fault

Not Sure Who’s at FaultIt happens sometimes that no one is quite sure who’s at fault for your auto accident. Under normal situations, you should be able to file a claim with your insurance company, get what you’re owed, and let the two insurers battle it out between themselves. But that doesn’t always happen. Sometimes you’re the one caught in the middle of their fight. You shouldn’t have to drown in medical bills and property damage repairs or wait around for what you’re owed. If the insurance company is keeping you stuck in limbo, you need an attorney who will fight for you.

Low Settlement Amount

Low Settlement AmountInsurance companies want to pay as little as possible for a claim. Their job is to save money, not pay it. Before you accept an amount for a totaled vehicle or any property damage, do your homework and don’t rely on the claims adjuster's numbers. Take your vehicle to a mechanic to get an estimate on the repairs. Check out Kelly Blue Book to get an idea of what your vehicle is worth. When you get an offer that you know is too low, you can try to negotiate or you can contact an attorney who can help you. Don’t settle for less than you’re owed. The smallest amount the insurance company is willing to pay you won’t help fix your car or replace it.

Medical Costs and Bills Not Being Paid

Medical Costs and Bills Not Being PaidIf you’re in an accident and the other driver is at fault, their insurance company is supposed to pay your medical bills up to the limits of the policy. Which means you’ll have to pay whatever is left over. In some cases, drivers don’t always have any insurance. This means nothing gets paid for you unless you have personal injury protection (PIP) coverage. When you don’t receive any reimbursement for your medical expenses, your only real recourse is a personal injury claim. Talk to a personal injury attorney who can look at the details of your situation and advise you on the best course of action.

Insurance Company Acting in Bad Faith

Insurance Company Acting in Bad FaithInsurance companies are required to comply with certain rules and regulations to process claims, but that doesn’t mean they all do. If you’re dealing with an insurance company acting in bad faith, you’re the one who loses. There are several things considered “bad faith acts.” Here are just a few:
  • Denying your claim but not telling you why
  • Not paying your claim in a timely fashion
  • Refusing to pay a claim covered by your policy
  • Requiring unnecessary or unreasonable effort on your part to process the claim -- usually in the form of a lot of paperwork.
If you think the insurance company has acted in bad faith, you may have legal recourse against them. This is above and beyond any potential legal action, you might want to take about the auto accident itself. The best thing to do is to contact a personal injury attorney as soon as possible.

Conclusion

In a perfect world, when you get into an auto accident, insurance companies would pay the claim, make you whole, and let you get on with your life. In reality, that doesn’t always happen. Denied claims, unreturned phone calls, and low settlement offers are all too real. When this happens to you, work with a personal injury attorney who will fight for you. Contact Ed Bernstein and Associates today.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ed Bernstein

Edward M. Bernstein, Esq. is the owner and founding partner of Edward M. Bernstein & Associates, and one of the most recognizable figures in Nevada. Ed is one of state’s premier personal injury attorneys and has hosted The Ed Bernstein Show for over 31 years. He has served the Las Vegas community for decades with dozens of community appointments and terms of service. In the year 2000, he was Nevada’s Democratic nominee for the United States Senate.

Ed received his B.A. from Long Island University in 1971 and his J.D. from Widener University in 1975. Since then, Ed’s professional accolades include numerous publications, honors and awards, court appointments, and has been named one of America’s Top 100 High Stakes Litigators.