Though we all buy auto insurance, we always hope that we never require it. But accidents happen, like, weather injuries, benders, fenders, and even dangerous car crashes that lead to injury.

Getting your car insurance claim denied is quite frustrating and also can leave you totally confused about what you have done wrong. Here are some common reasons that lie behind insurers denying claims.

At the time of purchasing car insurance, you choose both the coverage and the limits of the very policy. In case the coverage limit exceeds, or in case you already have exhausted your policy limit.

For example, if you have a limit of $50,000 for bodily injury, but you cost an accident, which costs $100,000 for the other driver’s medical expenses. Now your insurance company will not offer the extra $50,000.

Famous Car Accident Cases in Atlanta

Car accidents are a harsh reality of daily life, and Atlanta has seen its fair share of them. Over the years, several car accident cases in Atlanta have made the media due to their severity or unusual circumstances. Let’s take a closer look at some of the most notable car accidents that have made headlines in Atlanta.

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The Fiery Crash on I-285

One of the most catastrophic car accidents that occurred in Atlanta was in April 2017 on I-285 near the Atlanta airport. A tractor-trailer carrying fuel collided with several other vehicles, causing a massive explosion that resulted in the death of three people. The explosion was so intense that it damaged the highway and caused it to be shut down for several hours. According to the Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, there were 1,504 fatalities in Georgia in 2019 due to car accidents.

The Death of a Georgia Tech Student

In 2017, a Georgia Tech student lost his life in a car accident in Midtown Atlanta. The accident happened when a car ran a red light and struck the student’s car, causing it to flip over. The young victim died at the scene, and the driver of the other vehicle was arrested and charged with vehicular homicide. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 36,096 people died in car accidents in the US in 2019.

The Buckhead Crash

In 2015, a car accident occurred in Buckhead that resulted in the death of five people. A Porsche travelling at a high speed collided with a Mercedes-Benz, causing both vehicles to catch fire. Unfortunately, the five people who lost their lives were all in the Mercedes-Benz, and the driver of the Porsche was arrested and charged with vehicular homicide. According to the NHTSA, 10,142 people died in car accidents involving speeding in the US in 2019.

The Atlanta Bus Crash

A tragic bus accident occurred in 2017 when a bus carrying a group of Atlanta high school students crashed on a trip to Disney World. The accident resulted in the death of one student and injuries to several others. The bus driver lost control of the vehicle, causing it to overturn on the highway. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, car accidents are the leading cause of death for teenagers in the US.

When there’s a crash, speak to an accident lawyer in Atlanta right away.

The Fatal Crash on I-75

In 2019, a fatal crash occurred on I-75 in Henry County, resulting in the death of three people. The accident happened when a car travelling in the wrong direction collided with another vehicle, causing both cars to catch fire. The driver of the car travelling in the wrong direction was later charged with vehicular homicide. According to the CDC, car accidents cost the US $75 billion annually in medical costs, lost productivity, and property damage.

The Wrong-Way Crash on I-85

Another tragic car accident occurred in 2017 on I-85 near the I-285 interchange. The accident happened when a car travelling in the wrong direction collided head-on with another vehicle, resulting in the death of three people. The driver of the car travelling in the wrong direction was later charged with vehicular homicide. According to the Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, there were 1,504 fatalities in Georgia in 2019 due to car accidents.

The Fatal Crash Involving an Uber Driver

In 2016, a fatal crash occurred in Midtown Atlanta involving an Uber driver. The accident occurred when the driver of the Uber vehicle ran a red light and collided with another car, resulting in the death of the passenger in the Uber vehicle. The driver was later charged with vehicular homicide. According to the NHTSA, alcohol-impaired driving fatalities accounted for 28% of all car accidents.

Policy Coverages

The type of coverage that you have chosen or are going to choose also determines the particular type of damages that your insurer will pay. When you file for coverage that you did not purchase, the insurance company will deny your claim.

For example, suppose you drop collision insurance for your older vehicle, and then you get into an accident. Now your insurer will definitely not be going to pay the repair costs.

Though you have the right coverage, in case you are found to be violating the law during the time of the accident, your insurance company will deny your claim.

Using a phone while craving or driving without a license are two law-violating incidents. Still, there are many more.

Violating Insurance Policy

At the time of purchasing your insurance, in case you misrepresent any pieces of information, this can be the reason behind your claim getting denied.

For example, when purchasing insurance, you had said that you use your car for personal communication, like going to the office, but then you got into an accident when you were using the same car to drive for Lyft or Uber.

Sometimes, the insurance claim is denied. In case it is about car insurance, you can hire a car accident lawyer, and for any other type of vehicle, you are also open to take assistance from an Atlanta Auto Accident Lawyer.

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For filing an insurance claim, you need to make sure that you are presenting everything the right way, and an Atlanta Auto Accident Lawyer will be able to help you. But you need to make sure that you are choosing the right attorney who will be capable of getting your claims.

Report The Accident Immediately To Your Insurer

When you delay reporting the claim, it will be painted as unnecessary. It also raises a question about when the property damage actually occurred.

It will be best if you take photos of the accident and send them to your insurance company as soon as possible. In order to make the whole process a bit easier, many insurers also let the customer use phone apps or online submission forms.

Seeks Medical Attention

A thorough medical check-up is mandatory after an accident in order to make sure that your injuries are associated with that particular accident. Even collisions that are really minor need a doctor’s visit and offer the required information for supporting your claim later.

In case the impact between the cars is not very strong, the insurance company might not believe that you were really injured from that specific car crash. Here the doctor’s prescriptions and reports might help you a lot.

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Whenever you get into a car crash or accident, always ensure that you are exchanging information about the insurance and insurers with the other driver who is involved.

Any kind of dispute with the other driver or the person’s insurance company. It might affect your claim late as well.

File A Police Report

For documenting all the details of the accident, filing a police complaint is absolutely required. This will also include and report your fault status along with the ability to operate the vehicle.

In case you are at fault, your claim might be denied by the insurer with suspicion of illegal behaviour, for example, talking on a cell phone while driving, or being reckless. It is easier to remove all these possibilities from the equation only if an officer documents the event.

Review Your Current Policy

You also need to make sure that you are providing all the pieces of information correctly. In case there is any lie or error from your side, it could lead to a legitimate claim denial.

It might be that the piece or pieces of information have nothing to do with your accident, but still, you will get your claim denied.

Steps For Resolution

In case you think that your claim is denied unfairly, there are steps that you can take to resolve the issue.

Start with gathering as much information as you can about your accident. Offer the adjuster a copy of both your medical and police reports. Make sure that all the necessary documents are in the proper place for supporting your claim.

When you are done with all the options that are provided by your insurance company, you can file an official complaint with the state’s Department of Insurance. Most of the state-run departments have the process details on their website. Before you are using their resources, ensure that you have an official letter from your insurer stating the reason your claim was denied.

Hiring an auto accident lawyer will be really beneficial for your claim. The professional will help you throughout the entire process and at the same time also try hard so that you can get your claim or at least a beneficial negotiation.

So, these are the things that you need to know about a car insurance claim denied. The reasons that I have mentioned here are the most common reasons why your claim was denied. In order to eliminate the chances of rejection, make sure that you have all the necessary documents and also a professional attorney by your side.

We hope you found this guide on finding an accident lawyer in Atlanta helpful.

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