What to Do When an Insurance Company Denies Your Bike Accident Claim
If you sustain a bicycle accident injury caused by the negligent actions of another driver or entity in Illinois, you will likely need to file a claim against the at fault party’s insurance carrier to recover compensation. However, what happens if the insurance carrier denies the bike accident claim?
Main Steps to Follow After Your Claim Denial
If you receive a denial of your bike accident claim, you need to act quickly to get things on track. Some of the first steps you should take after a bike accident claim denial in Illinois include:
Get Your Records Organized
Even a valid claim can get denied if the records are a mess. Insurance carriers look for any reason they can to delay or deny a claim, and if you do not present organized information, it can increase the chances of a claim denial.
If your bike claim has been denied, we encourage you to gather every bit of documentation you have related to the incident. This includes the police report, photos or video surveillance of the incident, medical records, and any correspondence from insurance carriers or others involved in the incident.
Read the Denial Letter and Your Policy
You should thoroughly read through the insurance denial letter. The letter should state why your claim was denied. The letter will also outline steps to appeal the decision. In addition to closely reading and understanding the denial letter, we also encourage you to read through the insurance policy.
Even after reading the denial letter and the insurance policy, you may not have any further clarity. That is okay. These documents are often intentionally difficult to understand.
Contact a Bicycle Accident Lawyer
We encourage you to reach out to a bicycle accident lawyer as soon as possible after the incident occurs. An attorney will be especially helpful if you have to appeal a denied insurance claim. The role of an attorney in an Illinois bicycle accident claim is multifaceted and includes investigating the incident, handling all communication with other parties involved, and negotiating on your behalf.
An attorney can also fully prepare your case for trial, if one becomes necessary after a claim gets denied.
Continue Medical Treatment
One overlooked aspect of a bicycle accident claim is medical care. Individuals involved in a bicycle accident claim, even one that has initially been denied, should continue any medical care recommended by their doctor. Any discontinuation of medical treatment against the recommendation of a medical professional could jeopardize the bicycle accident claim.
Limit Conversation With the Insurance Carrier
Limit how much conversation you have with any insurance claims adjuster who calls you. The role of an insurance claims adjuster is to analyze a claim and determine the settlement amount, but they are not on your side. The insurance claims adjuster worked for the insurance carrier, and they are going to do what they can to limit how much money they pay. As much as possible, you should limit how much conversation you have with the insurance carrier. Do not ever give a recorded statement. It is in your best interest to refer any communication from an insurance carrier to your bicycle accident lawyer in Illinois.