My Insurance Company Underpaid My Claim. What Can I Do?

How Do I Know if My Insurance Claim Was Underpaid?

It’s hard to know on your own if your insurance claim was underpaid – especially if it’s the first time you’ve had to use your car insurance, home insurance, or other type. However, there can be some warning signs that your claim was potentially undervalued by the insurance company, and therefore you did not receive the appropriate payment. A few things to look out for include:

• Known damages were not included in the report. If you do not receive an itemized list of what a claim payment includes, ask for one.
• A rushed inspection. This can be especially obvious if the damage to your property was extensive. If your accident or claim includes damages that need complicated estimates, it will and should take some time for an adjuster to properly estimate what you will need from your insurance company.
• Delays in hearing from your insurance company. Delays can happen for a variety of reasons, but most of them benefit your insurance company. You may become impatient and ready to take any deal they offer, for instance.

What to Do if You Think Your Insurance Claim Was Underpaid

In many cases, an insurance company counts on you wanting to leave your accident behind quickly. To really be able to move on, you must be fairly compensated. Whether it be your vehicle, your home, or beyond, insurance is there to protect you and help you put your life back together. If you feel like your insurance company underpaid your claim and acted in bad faith you should:

• Thoroughly review your insurance coverage contract. You should know exactly what your coverage entitles you to – and what it does not.
• Understand exactly how your insurance company calculated your claim payment. If you did not receive an itemized list of damages and what they estimated for each item, ask for one. This will help you compare against real quotes from the people contracted to fix your property.
• Get a second opinion. For many, this could be your first time dealing with an insurance claim payout. So, you are likely not an expert on insurance claims. Seek one out. A private adjuster can give you a second opinion and help you understand if you were underpaid.
• Hire a lawyer. If you feel that your insurance company acted in bad faith by purposefully underpaying your insurance claim, talk to a lawyer today. They can help you understand the specifics of your case. It’s important to note that not every underpayment is the result of bad faith on behalf of your insurance. A lawyer can help consult on the specifics of your case.

Seek Help From a Skilled Bad Faith Insurance Lawyer

After an accident, you may be ready to move on. But if you’ve experienced severe injuries and long-lasting property damage, it’s important that you receive the help you need from your insurance company. If you feel like your claim was underpaid, contact a lawyer today. Not every underpayment is the result of bad faith on the part of your insurance company.

At Regan Zambri Long PLLC, our bad faith insurance lawyers have decades of experience handling these cases and going to battle with large insurance companies on behalf of our clients. If you feel that you may have a bad faith lawsuit contact us today for a free consultation.