SKIP TO CONTENTYou’ve finally heard back from your insurance adjuster about your car accident payout. Only the news isn’t what you were expecting. The insurer has denied your claim. Knowing how to appeal a denied auto insurance claim can help you fight back against bad-faith insurance practices and seek the compensation you need to move forward.
Here are the steps to take to appeal an insurance claim denial.
1. Review Your Denial Letter Closely
Your adjuster likely sent you a letter detailing why they denied your claim. Review this letter carefully to understand the reason for the denial. Common reasons for auto claim denials include:
- You filed the claim too late.
- The policy has insufficient coverage for the claim.
- The coverage has lapsed.
- The adjuster believes you were more than 49% at fault.
Whatever the reason, you will need to dispute it in your appeal.
2. Hire an Experienced Attorney To Assist You
If you want to improve your chances of successfully appealing a denied auto insurance claim, hire an attorney to assist you. Insurance companies don’t make it easy to submit appeals. You need to follow strict protocols and provide extensive evidence to have a chance of winning your appeal.
An insurance dispute attorney can review the details of your denial, conduct an in-depth policy review, gather specific evidence to dispute the adjuster’s reasoning, and represent you throughout the appeal. They have experience with the appeal process and can improve your outcomes at every stage.
3. Gather Supporting Evidence To Refute the Claim Denial
Your next step in how to appeal a denied auto insurance claim is collecting evidence. To appeal the adjuster’s decision, you must clearly state why they were wrong.
Depending on the reason for your denial, compelling evidence could include any of the following:
- Additional photos or videos of the accident scene
- Witness statements
- Medical reports
- Quotes from the police report
- Lines from the insurance policy detailing your coverage
- Evidence from similar insurance claims or lawsuits and their outcomes
Your attorney will piece together this evidence to construct a clear story surrounding your car accident claim, proving that the insurer’s decision was in bad faith.
4. Contact Your Insurance Company
Once you and your attorney have a solid evidence file to present to the insurer, contact the insurance company and inform them of your intention to appeal. If you’re lucky, this will prompt an adjuster reconsideration. The adjuster may review the case and find that the denial was unfounded.
Otherwise, the insurance company should explain its appeal process. Each company follows different protocols for filing appeals, but your attorney can help you understand how to appeal a denied auto insurance claim through your company.
5. Draft a Compelling Appeal Letter
Your attorney will compile the new evidence they have collected and draft a professional appeal letter according to your insurer’s protocols. They will submit this letter promptly to officially appeal the claim denial. Your insurer should accept or deny the appeal within a few weeks.
6. Consider Legal Action If Your Appeal Is Unsuccessful
If the insurance adjuster denies your appeal, you may have the opportunity to submit a second internal appeal before requesting an external review of the denial. If all else fails, you and your attorney may need to take legal action against the insurance company.
Contact Bryan Garrett PLLC for Legal Guidance Through Insurance Claim Disputes
Knowing how to appeal a denied auto insurance claim involves knowing who to turn to in this challenging time. Bryan Garrett PLLC helps Oklahoma accident victims appeal claim denials and seek adequate compensation for their damages. Contact us today at 405-725-2661 for professional assistance with your insurance claim dispute.
