Auto insurance is usually an injured driver’s first option for recovering compensation after another driver causes an accident in Georgia. When truck accidents happen, injured victims can claim compensation from truck drivers’ commercial auto insurance policies, but what happens when insurance denies a truck accident claim in Georgia? It’s a good idea to hire a truck accident lawyer to help you recover from your accident, so they can advise you if this happens to you.
What Happens When Insurance Denies a Truck Accident Claim in Georgia?
The aftermath of any vehicle accident can be confusing, and accidents involving large commercial trucks have a high chance of causing devastating injuries to those involved. In 2022, the Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety reported 8,660 suspected serious injuries and 1,829 deaths from vehicle crashes statewide. Truck accidents, while less common than passenger vehicle accidents, tend to be far more damaging.
Regardless of whether you remember how your accident happened or have no recollection of the incident, you should hire a truck accident lawyer right away to help you build your case. If another party is responsible for causing the accident, you need to prove fault before you can claim compensation for your damages. A skilled attorney will know what evidence you need to establish liability.
Every driver in Georgia is required to have auto insurance that meets minimum requirements for bodily injury and property damage liability. If a covered driver causes an accident, their insurance policy can pay for resulting damages up to the policy’s coverage limits. This may sound simple enough, but many injured drivers encounter unexpected complications with their auto insurance claims, including unfair claim denials.
When an insurance company denies your claim, they are required to provide a detailed written explanation for the denial. While you are less likely to have your claim unfairly denied if you hire a truck accident lawyer to help you file it, it is still possible that the insurance company will present some type of justification for the denial, and you will need your attorney’s help to respond.
After most insurance claim denials, claimants can file appeals with the help of their attorneys. Your appeal should include any supporting documentation your attorney can secure to support your appeal. Your Georgia truck accident attorney can determine how to contest the denial, and this may be enough for the insurance company to relent and offer a fair settlement.
If your attorney believes that the insurance company has acted in bad faith in any way, they can help you file a bad faith insurance claim. Examples of bad faith include unreasonable delays in processing a claim, intentionally misrepresenting aspects of the claim, or other unethical tactics intended to bully a claimant into accepting a denial or lowball settlement offer.
As a last resort, you may need to file a personal injury claim to pursue compensation for your damages. An experienced Georgia truck accident attorney can provide invaluable guidance if you must proceed with this avenue of legal recourse, and you are more likely to succeed with your case and recover suitable compensation with their assistance.
Ultimately, dealing with auto insurance carriers in Georgia can be challenging in various ways, and you need to know what happens when insurance denies a truck accident claim in Georgia and what you can do about it.
The team at Hall & Lampros, LLP has years of proven experience helping injured clients throughout Georgia with their auto insurance claims, and we know the tactics that most insurance companies use against claimants. Reach out to our firm to learn how we can help after an insurance company has unfairly denied your claim.
FAQs
How Much Compensation Can I Claim From Auto Insurance After a Truck Accident?
The amount of compensation you can claim from auto insurance after a truck accident depends on the defendant’s policy limits. Georgia law requires individual drivers to have auto insurance that meets minimum coverage requirements, but commercial trucks are typically covered by commercial policies that exceed the coverage provided by most other policies. Your attorney can calculate the total damages you are eligible to claim from auto insurance.
What Is Insurance Bad Faith?
Insurance bad faith is any type of unethical handling of an insurance claim. Insurance companies lose profits when they pay out claims, so they generally try to do everything they can to devalue claims whenever possible, and some engage in unethical tactics in these efforts. Misrepresenting policy terms, unreasonable delays in claim processing, intentionally stalling claim payments, or pressuring a claimant to accept a lowball settlement are common examples.
Why Should I Hire a Truck Accident Lawyer for an Insurance Claim?
You should hire a truck accident lawyer to help you with your insurance claim because the insurance company is more likely to handle your claim in good faith and extend a reasonable settlement offer when they see that you have legal representation. Your attorney can help you file your claim with all necessary supporting evidence, resolve any disputes that arise, and help you secure a fair settlement offer.
How Long Does an Insurance Company Have to Settle a Claim in Georgia?
In Georgia, an insurance company must respond to a claim within 15 days of receiving it, and then the insurer has another 15 days to process it. The insurance company must then send an approval or denial to the claimant within 40 to 60 days of receiving the claim. If a claim is approved, the insurer has 10 days to send payment. In disputed cases, it may take several months for the claim to be settled.
Dealing with auto insurance after an accident in Georgia can be incredibly tedious, but hiring legal counsel can make this process easier, and you will be more likely to secure a favorable settlement offer with their help. Every driver should know what happens when insurance denies a truck accident claim in Georgia and the value of having legal counsel. Contact Hall & Lampros, LLP today to schedule a free consultation and learn how we can assist with your claim.
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