As we invest in insurance policies, we tend to think of them as a proactive way to prepare in the event of a personal injury or other unforeseen circumstance that is out of our control; however, we rarely hope that we have to use them. Unfortunately, some people find that when they need to leverage their policy most and submit insurance claims that should be covered, they are on their own as the insurance provider looks after their own best interests. And, while you could try to fight the determination alone, this is not always the best approach to ensure you receive a fair outcome.
To ensure fair settlements that exceed $10,000, it is important to educate yourself on the process and verify the coverages in your existing policy. As a business negotiation, you likely have paid a lot of money to ensure you have coverage when you need it. That is one of the reasons that it can be so hard to hear that your insurance claim has been denied. Before you decide if retaining an attorney is the right choice, the declarations page of an insurance policy is often the best place to look. If you feel you are entitled to the insurance claims you have submitted and still are receiving pushback, it may be time to start looking for legal counsel to determine the next steps.
When Should You Retain an Insurance Claims Attorney?
In many cases, the best starting point is to speak with a lawyer about your insurance claim and the current situation. At this point, your attorney should be able to start giving your advice on what your rights are as a policyholder and having an attorney contact your insurance company early in the claims process may prolong the dispute and make it much harder for your to resolve the problem quickly and easily. So, while you may retain a lawyer as soon as you start receiving pushback, they should not take of the process until you have done your due diligence and the insurance company still is not treating you fairly.
Once an insurance claims attorney has spoken to the insurance provider, the policyholder should refrain from communicating with them for their own protection. All necessary information should then be passed on through your attorney to ensure a consistent message and legal stance. For policyholders that aren’t ready to pursue this type of action and are still hoping for a favorable outcome without the need for legal pursuits should weight this decision heavily before they decide to retain a lawyer or activate them as a more prominent player throughout the process.
How Can You Find an Insurance Claims Attorney?
Like any other process that involves finding a lawyer, it is important to start by getting referrals from people that you know and trust; however, not every lawyer will be a great fit. For instance, a lawyer that practices family law exclusively may not have the experience needed to go up against an experienced insurance defense counsel, and many insurance companies will assess the risks of not settling by considering the strength of the attorney that you have chosen to represent your needs.
Before choosing an attorney, it is important to create a “shortlist” of your top choices and start interviewing them to find the right fit. Meeting with several law firms can help give you an idea of what type of experience they have as an insurance claims attorney and other considerations like how long the process might take or what their fee structure may look like. Regardless of which attorney you choose to represent you, make sure you have a good working relationship with them in case the insurance claims process takes several months to reach a suitable conclusion.
Why Choose Amber Law Group?
Amber Peckio Garrett is the owner of Amber Law Group where she practices consumer protection, insurance disputes, product liability, family law, and criminal defense. No two personal injury claims are the same, and you need an experienced Tulsa personal injury attorney who has the legal knowledge to defend you in court but also a familiarity handling insurance claims, dealing with opposing counsel and managing the many other administrative tasks that result from an injury. Contact us today at 918-895-7216. We have offices in Tulsa and McAlester that are waiting for your call.
