How to Appeal a Denied Car Insurance Claim In Washington

Car accidents are traumatic experiences that have lasting adverse effects on an injured motorist. Painful medical procedures, lengthy recovery times, and missed time from work quickly add up to daunting financial consequences, adding to the physical and emotional trauma.

Unfortunately, the Washington car accident claim process sometimes adds to an injury victim’s distress with a complex process requiring the injury victim to prove the other driver’s fault and liability.

When the insurance company denies or woefully undervalues a car accident claim, it often feels like the final blow; however, it’s crucial to know that a denial doesn’t have to be the end. Instead, an experienced Renton car accident lawyer can file an appeal with a compelling argument for the compensation you deserve.

Why Do Car Insurance Companies Deny Claims?

Despite their compassionate ads, insurance companies are not on an injury victim’s side. They are in the business of making profits, and they do so at the injury victim’s expense. Under Washington’s pure comparative negligence insurance system, car accident victims seeking compensation must file a claim against the at-fault party’s insurance.

This system allows car accident victims who are partly at fault for an accident to recover compensation for their injury-related losses, but the insurance company subtracts their assigned percentage of fault from the total payout on a claim. This incentivizes the insurance company to undervalue claims.

Insurance companies often deny claims based on other factors, such as an injury victim’s failure to seek medical care immediately after an accident. They may also record phone calls and take the injury victim’s words out of context, or claim that the injury was caused by a pre-existing condition or a previous accident.

How Do I Appeal a Denied Car Accident Claim In Washington?

Insurance companies sometimes deny valid claims to increase their profit margin, leading to frustration and financial hardship, especially for car accident victims with serious injuries and expensive damages like medical expenses, lost earnings, and temporary or permanent disability.

Fortunately, injury victims have the right to appeal a denial. To file an appeal, first, gather all evidence, including the police report of the accident, eyewitness statements, any photo and video evidence, and the medical report showing your injuries.

Then, hire a Washington car accident lawyer to do the following:

• Investigate the accident
• Compile evidence and send their findings to the insurance company in a formal appeal
• Attend negotiation meetings and mediation if required
• File a lawsuit if the insurance company fails to offer an acceptable settlement

Taking an Appeal to Court

Most car accident appeals end with settlements because insurance companies prefer to avoid the added expense of court. In addition, juries tend to sympathize with injury victims and rule in their favor with large awards for damages.

However, an assertive car accident lawyer will file a lawsuit and take the case to court if necessary to achieve the compensation an injury victim deserves.

In some cases, a car accident attorney can file a complaint with the insurance commissioner and take the insurance company to court for bad-faith insurance practices, recovering additional compensation for a car accident victim who received an unwarranted denial.

How Can a Washington Car Accident Attorney Help?

The car insurance appeal process is complex, with a lot on the line in a second attempt to obtain full and fair compensation.

Instead of leaving your claim in the hands of the same insurance company that issued a denial or an undervalued claim, contact us at Caffee Accident & Injury Lawyers for legal representation.