After years of paying your premiums, when you are involved in an accident, you expect your auto insurance company to be on your side. It stands to reason that you have paid out all that money to make sure that your injuries and property are covered in such a situation. When the rubber meets the road, you may find yourself frustrated and disappointed.
Know Your Policy
It is up to each policyholder to know what is and is not covered in their insurance policy. Your auto insurance company will be happy to sell you a policy, but they may not inform you of the small print included in it. You also may make some assumptions about your coverage that could affect you if you are involved in an accident or if another person damages your car. For example, you may not be entitled to make a claim if your spouse intentionally damages your vehicle.
The Contract Between You and the Auto Insurance Company
When it comes right down to it, you enter into a contract with the auto insurance company, and though they are there to help you, ultimately, it is still a business, and they are concerned about their bottom line. This is another reason you need to be aware of what your policy covers and to what degree.
Filing a claim could increase your premiums going forward; this may not always be the case, but you need to know when this can happen. Getting a traffic ticket could also increase your premiums. Non-moving tickets are less likely to send red flags to the auto insurance company, but you can be sure that speeding tickets will trigger a response. After some time, your violations will drop off your driving record. You can find out if your premiums will decrease accordingly.
Legal Loop Holes
Even though the insurance industry is held in check by rules and regulations, it is still an industry whose primary interest is in protecting profits. Many auto insurance companies will look for loopholes when it comes to paying out claims. This can particularly true when injuries are involved.
Choosing to delay claims, lowballing settlements and other tactics are used, putting consumers at a disadvantage. An excellent personal injury attorney can help you avoid the pitfalls of dealing with the auto insurance company. At Maison Law Firm, we fight for our clients’ right to fair compensation for damages. You owe nothing unless we win. Contact us via email at martin@maisonlaw.comor call to schedule an appointment, 559-203-3333. Serving the areas of Visalia, Merced, Bakersfield, and Fresno, we are here to help.
