Facing the aftermath of a truck crash is hard enough—but what if the trucking company’s insurance denies your claim and leaves you with mounting medical bills and no clear path forward? Truck accidents can leave victims and families facing substantial losses. This makes filing an insurance claim a critical part of the recovery process. But, what if the trucking company’s insurer denies your claim? In this scenario, what can (and should) you do?
Understanding your options after a trucking company’s insurer denies your claim requires a clear understanding of the circumstances at hand. However, one thing is clear: In truck accident cases, an insurance denial is not necessarily the end of the process. Wrongful denials are common, and even if the trucking company’s insurer isn’t liable, you could still have a claim for compensation. That’s why it’s so important to know your options if the trucking company’s insurance denies your claim.
So, let’s say you were injured in a truck accident, and let’s say the trucking company’s insurer has denied your claim for damages. What are your options? Understanding what to do when the trucking company’s insurance denies your claim can be the difference between walking away with nothing and securing the compensation you’re entitled to.
Depending on the circumstances at hand, three potential options include:
Any time you are dealing with the denial of an insurance claim, you need to make sure you know why your claim has been denied. For example, if the insurance company denied your claim because you haven’t presented adequate evidence of liability, then presenting additional evidence could be the next step in the process.
Truck accident cases are complex; and, while the trucking company’s insurer is required to investigate your claim, it is going to investigate with its own best interests in mind. As a result, it will be up to you to prove that the insurance company is liable. If you didn’t hire a truck accident lawyer to investigate, you aren’t going to have the evidence you need—and you are going to want to hire a truck accident lawyer as soon as possible. Additional documentation may be exactly what you need when the trucking company’s insurance denies your claim.
If the trucking company’s insurer has wrongfully denied your claim, then your best option may be to take the insurance company to court. Wrongful denials are not uncommon; and, when facing substantial liability, insurance companies will try to protect themselves by all means available. If the trucking company’s insurer is unwilling to pay what it owes, you may need to hire a truck accident lawyer to file a lawsuit and prepare your case for trial.
While trucking companies (and their insurers) are often liable for commercial truck accidents, various other companies can potentially be liable as well. For example, the trucking company’s insurer might not be liable if:
The trucking company’s insurer is only obligated to cover your losses if the trucking company is responsible for the accident. If it isn’t, then you will need to file a different type of claim in order to seek financial compensation for your accident-related losses. Here too, a comprehensive investigation is essential, and you need to make sure you file the right claim before you run out of time. Just because the trucking company’s insurance denies your claim doesn’t mean you don’t have legal options.
Not only do you need to file the right claim before you run out of time, but you also need to preserve the available evidence of liability before it disappears. As a result, we strongly advise against trying to handle your truck accident claim on your own. If you have already filed an unsuccessful claim, you will want to consult with a truck accident lawyer right away to find out if there is still time to collect the evidence you need to seek just compensation.
Whether you have grounds to hold the trucking company’s insurer liable or you need to file a different type of claim for damages, collecting the evidence you need is the first step in the process. If you can’t prove who (or what company) is responsible, you won’t be able to recover the compensation you deserve.
Being seriously injured in a truck accident can turn your life upside down physically, emotionally, and financially. At Coplan + Crane, we understand what you’re going through, and we’re here to help you take the next step toward justice and recovery.
Contact the Chicago truck accident lawyers at Coplan + Crane today online or at 312-982-0588 for a FREE case evaluation. We help clients across Illinois, including Chicago, Oak Park, Rockford, and other areas. We handle commercial truck accident cases on a contingency basis, which means you don’t pay unless we win.
