Common Reasons for Denied Car Accident Claims
Car accidents can be traumatic events. A car accident can result in severe physical and emotional distress. A car accident can result in substantial losses and damages. Fortunately, after a Kentucky car accident, you may be eligible to recover financial compensation for your injuries and damages from the at-fault party. However, if you were involved in a Kentucky car accident and are seeking compensation, you should know that insurance companies can deny car accident claims for various reasons. Here are some common reasons for denied car accident claims.
- Disputed Liability
One of the common reasons for denied car accident claims is disputed liability. If there is a disagreement over who is to blame for the accident, the insurance company may refuse to accept responsibility for your injuries and damages. In some car accident cases, liability is clear-cut. However, in other cases, liability is not clear-cut. Also, a case of disputed liability may arise if parties give conflicting accounts of what happened.
- Lack of Evidence
Your car accident claim may be denied if you do not have sufficient evidence to prove liability. The at-fault party’s insurance company cannot trust your word without enough evidence. Car accident claims submitted without evidence, such as accident reports, medical records, witness statements, and accident scene pictures, can be dismissed quite easily. A qualified car accident attorney can help gather the evidence you need to support your claim.
- Victim Is at Fault
Insurance companies sometimes try to pin the blame for the accident on the claimant. The insurance company may claim that you are partially at fault for your accident, thus are not entitled to recover compensation. Indeed, drivers have a standard of care to uphold. However, even when you are partially at fault for your accident, you may still be eligible to recover compensation. In Kentucky, the insurance company cannot deny you compensation because you are partially at fault for your accident. Kentucky is a pure comparative negligence state. This means that, after a car accident, you can recover compensation from another party’s insurance company as long as you are not 100% to blame for your accident.
- Insurance Policy Exclusions
Insurance companies usually conduct investigations to determine that the circumstances of the accident are covered under the applicable insurance policy. If the circumstances surrounding your accident are excluded under the at-fault party’s policy, your claim may be denied based on that exclusion.
- Delay in Medical Care
If you did not seek immediate medical treatment after your car accident, the at-fault party’s insurance company may use that as grounds to deny your claim. The insurance company may wonder, “Why wait to seek medical treatment if you were truly injured?” Waiting to seek medical care may make the insurance company suspicious of your intentions. For this reason, it is crucial to seek immediate medical attention after a car accident.
Contact a London and Southeast Kentucky Auto Accident Attorney
If you were involved in a Kentucky car accident because of another party’s negligence, our skilled London & Southeast Kentucky auto accident attorneys at Cessna & George Law Firm can help you with your case. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.
