Suffering injuries in a semi-truck accident is a traumatic experience. Unfortunately, your frustration and stress can be even worse if the insurance company for the negligent truck driver or fleet company denies your injury compensation claim. This happens more often than not.
Fortunately, if you experience this, there are options. Our experienced Washington truck accident lawyer at Max Meyers Law explains why these denials happen, what your rights are, and how we’ll help you fight back to recover the economic and non-economic damages you deserve.
Reasons an Insurance Company Could Deny Your Washington Truck Accident Claim
Insurance companies deny truck collision claims for many reasons. While some decisions are justified, many are not. In fact, insurers might state there’s a valid reason to refuse to settle a case, even if the argument is invalid. Why would they do this? It’s simple: they want to save money and hope you’ll give up and not pursue your claim.
Understanding why insurance adjusters deny these claims can help you know what to do next if you receive a denial letter. Here are the primary reasons your claim could be disputed:
- Policy lapse. If the trucker or the trucking company has lapsed coverage, this might complicate your case. However, you cannot take the insurance adjuster’s word for this and need to verify when the last payment was made.
- Policy exclusion. Some situations and events may not be covered under a policy. However, these terms are often intentionally confusing, and an insurer may state your truck crash is excluded when the coverage states otherwise.
- Lack of evidence. An insurance company could also deny your claim by declaring there’s insufficient evidence of how the trucker’s negligence caused your truck accident, the seriousness of your injuries, or the damages you seek—whether these issues are true or not.
- Disputed liability. Another reason insurance adjusters could give for not paying you is to claim that you caused the accident, even if you did nothing wrong, or that the trucking company is not liable for their driver’s actions. However, in Washington, trucking companies are vicariously liable when their trucker’s negligence causes a wreck.
- Missed deadlines. Your claim could also be denied if:
- You miss the deadline to file a claim against the insurance policy or;
- You fail to file your lawsuit within the three-year deadline to sue under RCW 4.16.080. If you miss this, the judge will likely dismiss your complaint, and the insurer won’t have any reason to offer you a settlement.
Other Unfair Tactics an Insurer Might Use Against Your Truck Accident Claim
Even if the insurance company doesn’t deny your claim, it could try other ways to reduce the amount you deserve or drag out settlement negotiations. Here are the following signs that an insurer isn’t treating you fairly:
- Not returning your calls.
- Not investigating your claim or taking too long to do so.
- Asking for evidence in a piecemeal fashion or for documentation not required to settle your claim, such as all your medical records.
- Raising invalid defenses, such as that you were partially to blame for the truck crash or that your medical treatments are unnecessary.
- Making a lowball settlement offer.
Steps to Take If Your Washington Truck Accident Claim Is Denied
If you receive a denial letter, you must take action right away to protect your rights. At Max Meyers Law, here’s what our legal team recommends:
- Read the letter carefully. There should be a detailed explanation for the decision.
- Remain calm. Remember that the reasons might not be true, and that you have options.
- Review your evidence. Collect any proof you have, such as the police report or your medical bills, that can help you refute the insurance company’s arguments.
- Hire an attorney. One of the most important steps you can take in this situation is to contact our experienced truck accident lawyer immediately.
How Max Meyers Law Can Assist You If Your Washington Truck Accident Claim Is Denied
Don’t try to handle this alone. Attorney Max Meyers has successfully settled and obtained jury verdicts for truck accident victims for decades. Here are ways we can help you.
Determine the Cause of Your Semi-Truck Accident
These collisions are complicated and often involve violations of Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulations created to prevent these tragic incidents. Max will determine the cause of your crash and identify all liable parties.
Preserve Evidence
Our legal team will work with you and the trucking company to gather vital evidence that supports the cause of the crash, the severity of your injuries, and the value of your claim. Having the right documentation is crucial to building a winning case.
Send a Demand Letter
We also send the trucking company a demand letter outlining why the insurance company’s denial of your claim is wrong and the damages it’s responsible for paying you.
Negotiate Your Settlement
Max is a skilled negotiator and has strategies to defeat the insurance adjuster’s arguments to dispute your claim. He fights hard to ensure you have a chance at a rightful settlement to pay expensive medical bills, replace lost income, and compensate you for the pain and suffering you have endured.
File a Lawsuit
If the time period to sue expires soon, or the insurance company won’t offer a fair settlement, we won’t hesitate to file a lawsuit suing all parties liable to compensate you. If a jury trial is the best way to get you the damages you deserve, count on us to get results.
