Reasons your car insurance claim could be denied

A car crash is an unwelcome event in anyone’s life—suddenly there is a car to be fixed, injuries to treat, everyone else involved in the accident to coordinate with, and insurance claims to submit quickly and accurately.

The already frustrating situation can get much worse if your submitted car insurance claims are denied after an accident. There can be various reasons for this, but some of the most common ones may surprise you.

Reasons car insurance companies may deny your claim

Take a look at the following list and be aware of these possibilities coming up in your car insurance claims—knowing what to do in these situations can make the difference between drawn-out processes fighting to get your claim handled, and hitting the issue head-on to work towards getting the claim coverage you need.

1. The person who hit you in the accident may not be paying their premiums for their insurance, which may result in it being suspended.
2. Your policy does not cover what you thought it did.
3. You have liability insurance but not comprehensive or collision coverage.
4. You missed the time frame to report the accident.
5. It is proven that you were driving under the influence.
6. You are not the insured driver listed on the policy.
7. The claim you made was exaggerated or considered fraudulent—this is also a felony
8. The car was brand new which created a value-change in the vehicle and mandatory insurance.
9. The vehicle is so damaged that it exceeds the policy limits.
10. The person responsible for the accident and damages is unclear.
11. The other person in the accident is disputing the damages you have claimed.
12. You did not seek medical attention soon enough to claim it was part of the accident.
13. You accidentally filed a claim saying the other person has no insurance, but they do.
14. You got inaccurate information from the person responsible, or they purposely gave you wrong information.

All of these scenarios can turn an already terrible situation into a more difficult, long process to get you and your vehicle up and running again. However, you may have grounds to file a claim and seek compensation even after your initial claim was denied.

Being aware of exactly what your insurance handles and what to do if an issue occurs could save you time and money. If any of these issues come up in your car accident insurance claims, don’t hesitate to talk to a trusted attorney to make sure your best interests and claims are well represented.