Car insurance companies in Texas are legally required to offer uninsured motorist (UM) and underinsured motorist coverage (UIM) when you buy a policy. While you can reject this coverage, it’s often a good idea to add it to your car insurance policy in case you get into an accident with an uninsured driver or a driver who only buys minimum coverage.
What are the chances of that happening? Considering that there are an estimated 2.7 million uninsured motorists in the state of Texas, and that most drivers opt to buy minimum coverage, the odds aren’t all that low.
When you get into an accident with a driver who lacks insurance or doesn’t have enough to cover your damages, you can file a claim with your insurance company so that you’re not left to deal with medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages on your own.
However, your insurance company’s interests won’t always be aligned with your own. They’re a profit-driven entity, after all. If they can find a reason to deny your UM/UIM claim, they’ll probably try. In these situations, it’s important to hire an experienced Round Rock uninsured motorist claim lawyer to help you fight back.
Why Would My Insurance Company Deny My UM/UIM Claim?
There are some legitimate and some illegitimate reasons why your insurance company might decide to deny your claim for uninsured motorist or underinsured motorist benefits after a car accident in Round Rock:
- You’re being blamed for the accident. Under Texas’s modified comparative negligence doctrine, sharing more than half of the blame for an accident can be a total bar to recovery. Sharing some of the blame can reduce any damages that are awarded.
- The extent of your injuries and damages is in dispute. The insurance adjuster might try to argue that you’ve exaggerated the severity of your injuries and the damages you’ve suffered because of the car accident. In these situations, you could be offered a limited payout that doesn’t max out your available benefits or compensate you in full.
- Claiming the types of injuries sustained are not related to the auto accident. If there’s not a lot of evidence to show that your injuries were caused by a car accident, like police reports, medical records, and eyewitness statements, the insurance company might decide that it’s not going to cover your losses.
Other times, an insurance company might deny the claim because the terms of the insurance policy have lapsed, the types of injuries claimed fall outside of approved coverage, or because they feel you’ll give up without a fight. An experienced uninsured motorist claim lawyer understands these tactics and knows how to counter them effectively.
Bad faith practices tend to be more common when claimants aren’t represented by counsel, so it’s usually a good idea to hire an uninsured motorist claim attorney in Round Rock to help you navigate claims, even if you’re going up against your own insurance carrier.
Can I Sue My Insurance Company for Denying My Uninsured Motorist Claim?
Yes, if there is evidence that your claim was denied in bad faith or that you rightfully deserve the benefits under the law and the terms of your car insurance contract. An uninsured motorist claim lawyer in Round Rock can evaluate whether your insurer acted in bad faith and help you hold them accountable for wrongful claim denials.
Contact a Round Rock Uninsured Motorist Claim Attorney Today
The thought of suing your insurance company can be overwhelming, especially when you’re trying to recover from your injuries and get on with your day-to-day life. The good news is that you don’t have to take this step on your own. In fact, you shouldn’t. You’re much more likely to find success when you’ve hired an experienced Round Rock car accident attorney to advocate for you.
Contact Dow Law Firm at (512) 240-9951 to discuss your claim with an uninsured motorist claim lawyer today. Members of our award-winning team of Round Rock uninsured motorist claim attorneys are here to offer the insight and honest guidance you deserve. Your first consultation is always free.