Filing an insurance claim is meant to cover what you need from an event that left you injured or with property damage. For example, if you were in an auto wreck that wasn’t your fault, you’d file an insurance claim through your auto insurance provider. Ideally, they would fully compensate you for the damages you suffered and the costs you incurred from the accident.
However, sometimes insurance companies short you on your claim, and give you less compensation than you deserve. That’s when you would dispute a claim. Let’s take a look at how to dispute an insurance claim so that you can stand up for yourself and recover what you deserve from your insurance policy.
Contact Your Insurer
If your insurance company has informed you that they either can’t settle your claim, or they’ve offered you a settlement that was less than you deserved, then you can dispute your claim with them. Your first step should be to contact your insurer and talk to a supervisor so you can inform them that you’re dissatisfied with the amount you received in your claim.
Through this call, they can look up your file and determine if a mistake was made. If they don’t change their minds, then you’ll need to follow up with a letter.
Write a Letter to Your Insurer
When writing a letter to your insurer, be sure to include documentation of your policy, the costs you incurred, and what they have sent you so that you can show that you deserved more in compensation. You should also include records of any phone calls between you and your insurer to show that you reached out to try to settle the claim other ways.
In your letter, you should also include the names of any representatives you spoke with in your phone calls. This way, you have further proof that you have voiced your disagreement with what the company offered you in compensation.
File a Complaint with Your State
If your insurance company is not complying with your dispute and refuses to change their offer to better fit what you’re owed, then you can file a complaint with the state insurance department to look into the claim. The West Virginia Department of Insurance (DOI) has a consumer complaint form that you can fill out and submit to their office.
Once you fill out the form and submit it, the DOI will investigate your claim and determine whether or not you’re owed more than your insurance company offered you. In this step, it’s important to answer any correspondence with the DOI promptly. They might request documentation from you that is time sensitive, so you want to send this as soon as possible.
Hire a Lawyer
Throughout all of this, you would most benefit from having legal representation from a lawyer. They can help you through the process of filing disputes with your insurance company, the state, and possibly filing a legal claim against your insurance company for full and fair compensation. With an attorney on your side, they’ll be able to fully investigate what happened, what you’re owed, and where your insurance company went wrong.
They’ll also be able to help you determine if your claim is within the statute of limitations. Determining how long you have to file a legal claim against your insurer can be complicated. One of our lawyers will be able to look at your case and figure out the proper statute of limitations your situation falls under.
When you need help filing a claim against your insurance company for undervaluing your claim, then you could use the help of a bad faith insurance lawyer from our firm. At DiPiero Simmons McGinley & Bastress, PLLC, we understand how intimidating it can be to go up against your insurer in a legal claim. That’s why we’re here to help you.
We’ll fully investigate your claim and gather all the documentation we need so we can get you the full and fair compensation that you deserve for your injuries and other damages. Reach out to our office today to find out how we can get started working for you.
