One of the hardest parts about being in a car accident actually comes after you’re hurt—dealing with a company like Farmers Insurance. The reason it’s so tough is because it feels like everything is working against you. And that only increases when Farmers denies your claim. But even then, you’re not out of options. Our California car accident lawyers at Maison Law can guide you. Set up a free consultation today.
Why Would Farmers Deny My Claim After a Car Accident?
When you get rear-ended on I-5 or sideswiped while driving your child to school, the first thing you’re thinking about is the pain you’re in and whether everyone is okay. You’re not thinking about getting pictures from a certain angle or how accurate the police report is.
But Farmers Insurance is thinking about these things, and they take the opportunity to start building their case while your focus is elsewhere. Here’s a few of the more common reasons why they might deny your claim after a car accident:
- Questioning the accident report and how liable their insured driver is.
- Saying that your medical records aren’t convincing enough or that your injuries weren’t from the accident in question.
- Not fully considering your pictures and videos from the scene—even when they clearly show damage.
- Continually asking you to submit more documentation before going back to their original denial—trying to run out the clock on your deadline.
What all of these tactics have in common are pretty clear: stalling to drag the process out. When you file a claim against a Farmers’ policy, they have the control and discretion to interpret things the way they want to. And while they can deny your claim, you can take other steps to make things right.
What Should I Do After Farmers Denies My Claim?
It’s true that Farmers Insurance can deny your claim for virtually any reason they choose. There’s limits to that, but they generally know that the process is tilted in their favor. But again, you still have options after they deny your claim—no matter what reason they give:
- Making a counteroffer. Even with a denial on the table, the claims process isn’t over until you accept it. Once you have an official denial from Farmers, you’ll have a clear answer about what you need to do. You can counter it by offering more medical records, statements, bank statements, or anything else that counters their narrative about what happened.
- Filing a lawsuit. Sometimes, a counteroffer is enough to get a fair shake. But most of the time, it only leads to a slightly better offer. If you want something more powerful, you can file a personal injury lawsuit in civil court. It takes more time and effort, but it takes the decision-making power out of Farmers’ hands. This is incredibly important, because a lawsuit is neutral. That means your evidence can be interpreted by a judge and jury more fairly. But more crucially, a lawsuit gives you access to more financial support for your “damages”, which include everything you can get in an insurance claim as well as other, more long-term issues from the accident like:
- Current and future medical expenses
- Lost income or a loss of future earning potential
- Repair/replacement costs for your car and other damaged property
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Reduced quality of life
Whether you should counteroffer or file a lawsuit is totally up to you. If you feel like you can get a better offer based on your evidence, you can avoid the main drawback of a lawsuit: the time and effort it takes. But remember, a lawsuit is fairer and gives you a better chance at getting the financial support you’re going to need to get better.
What Evidence Can Help My Claim If Farmers Insurance Denies It?
We’ve talked a lot so far about evidence. Insurance companies like Farmers understand that any car accident claim is going to have the same types of things that they’ll use to make their decision. But again, your damages are going to be unique and personal to you. That’s why it’s so important to understand what evidence you can use to help your claim:
- Pictures and videos. These are among the first things any Farmers adjuster is going to look at. When you file your claim, you should try to give them pictures/videos from the scene right after the accident to show the damage to your car, any visible injuries you have, positioning of both vehicles, road conditions, and anything else that lays out what the aftermath looked like.
- Medical records. This is going to be the backbone of your claim. Make sure to provide detailed medical records that link your injuries to the accident in question. That means going to an ER and getting checked out, then following up with a doctor. This documentation is also going to be important for looking at any long-term medical challenges you’re left with.
- Statements from others. One of the first things you’ll do after the accident is check in with the other driver and any bystanders. Make note of anything they say that sounds off, like “I looked down for just a second” or “They were speeding right before.” These things can be vital for nailing down liability.
- Your own notes. Your own perspective is also important. You’ll want to provide documentation of any mental and emotional struggles after the accident, focusing on things like ongoing anxiety while driving or stress from the pain you’re in. Also, note how your personal relationships and life have been impacted by what happened.
At the end of the day, Farmers’ decision is ultimately going to be based on how they see this evidence and how complete or incomplete it is. They’ll try to exploit any gaps in documentation or unclear evidence, and they have the resources to drag the process out. But one way or the other, our team will be there to help you from the very beginning.
Get Help From Maison Law When Farmers Insurance Denies Your Claim
Plenty of people try to handle the claim themselves at first. But when Farmers Insurance starts dragging things out, undervaluing your claim, or flat-out denying it, the story changes. At Maison Law, our role is simple: make sure you’re not getting pushed around by a system that feels stacked against you. We do that by:
- Breaking down your options in plain, straightforward terms so you know exactly where you stand.
- Gathering and organizing the evidence Farmers actually looks at when evaluating claims.
- Taking a deeper look at what happened so there’s less room for delays or excuses.
- Handling all communication with the insurance company so you’re not fielding stressful calls or emails.
- Pushing back when the offer doesn’t reflect what you’ve been through.
- Filing a lawsuit when that’s the only realistic way to move things forward.
If Farmers Insurance denies your car accident claim, reach out today for a free consultation.
