Insurance Claims in Bakersfield, CA

What Are Insurance Claims?

Filing an insurance claim in Bakersfield, California can be a stressful process. Every policy is different, and insurance companies may not pay you what you deserve. In some cases, hiring an insurance claim attorney is necessary. This page breaks down the nuances of  different types of insurance claims.

What Is a Property Insurance Claim?

A homeowner’s insurance policy is an agreement to protect the home from damage under specific occurrences. When you as a policyholder suffer a loss, you should find a dedicated Bakersfield, California property insurance lawyer. Your legal advocate works on your claim to ensure that you receive the benefits necessary to repair or rebuild your property.

If the insurer denies coverage or delays, policyholders should consult a property insurance attorney about a bad faith claim. If your claim goes to court and you win, you can often recover your court costs, attorney fees, and coverage benefits. There is also the possibility of recovering more money depending on the state laws under which you file your claim.

What Types Of Damage Claims Apply to Property Insurance?

Specific geographic regions impact the design of insurance policies. For example, Florida property insurance policies have more provisions for hurricanes versus earthquakes.

The California Department of Insurance provides an online guide for residents of Bakersfield that are seeking to file a property damage claim. Damage from storms, high winds, and wildfires have all increased in Bakersfield over the last few years. The Kern County Archives recorded that a wildfire in 2020 burned over 2,500 acres. In addition, you may want to consider purchasing earthquake insurance as well. FEMA reports that only 10% of California residents purchase earthquake insurance, despite 90% of the earthquakes in the U.S. originating in California.

How to File a Property Insurance Claim in Bakersfield, California

After you suffer a loss, you must contact your insurer as soon as possible. Taking this step begins the insurance claim process and gets things moving along. You need to notify your insurance company in writing or over the phone. From there, your insurer appoints a claim representative.

What to Expect Afterwards

Waiting for the insurance company to pay your claim can seem long and arduous. And at times it is. WalletHub confirms that an insurance company in Bakersfield is given 85 business days to pay your claim. This is generally broken down into 3 segments. The company will have 15 days to acknowledge your claim and provide you with the proper paperwork. They will then have 40 days to decide whether or not the claim is approved or denied.  Following this, they will have another 30 days to pay your claim.

This is a process, and it’s important to remember that as you wait for your legitimate claim to be paid out. In addition, the company is within their rights to ask for further documentation of the damage. This could include pictures, witness statements, or sending another inspector for inspection.

What Is an Auto Insurance Claim?

Auto insurance claims involve requesting compensation from an auto insurer after an accident. Car accidents are incredibly stressful, especially if there are uncooperative responsible parties. However, your insurer’s job is to work on your behalf to secure compensation for repairs, injuries and other expenses.

What Do You Do After a Car Accident?

Auto accidents in Bakersfield are generally tracked by the California Highway Patrol. Accidents can often overwhelm you. However, you must try to remain calm if you have experienced a car crash. The worst thing you can do is flee the scene of an accident, especially if there are injuries or property damage. Make sure to pull your car to the side of the road and wait for the authorities, regardless of fault.

Check yourself for injuries, as well as anyone else involved in the crash. Alert emergency services for medical attention if necessary, and if not then call the Bakersfield City Police. Make sure to gather information from anyone involved in the crash, as well as anyone who may have witnessed the accident. After you file a report with the police, you should contact your insurance provider as soon as possible. The information you gather at the scene will be instrumental in filing your claim.

Auto Claims Adjuster

Your auto insurance company will assign a claims adjuster to your claim report. Your adjuster acts as your representation in any mediation between you and all other involved parties. This insurance representative bears responsibility for investigating the claim and seeing that you receive compensation for any repairs or injuries.

Whether there are repair claims, personal injury claims, or you are dealing with someone who does not have insurance, your auto insurance adjuster should see you through the process. Your claims adjuster may recommend a garage to handle your vehicle repairs. They may also make arrangements for a rental vehicle if required. The most important thing to note is that your auto claim adjuster is your primary point of contact regarding the status of your claim in Bakersfield.

Health Insurance Claims

Bakersfield, California policyholders file health insurance claims when they seek reimbursement for medical services or treatments. When you obtain a medical service from a provider, your health insurance carrier should become notified directly. If there are any discrepancies in your claim, consider hiring a health insurance claim specialist attorney.

How Do You File a Health Claim in Bakersfield, California?

There are two ways to file a health insurance claim on your behalf. The first is the medical facility notifies your insurer for you. You may be able to walk out of the facility without spending anything, but that depends on your policy. The other way is to file a health insurance claim yourself. Taking this route can occur when a health provider you use is not in your provider network. The facility may still file the claim on your behalf, but you may need to file it yourself.

California’s Health Benefits Exchange instructs residents of Bakersfield on how to file a health insurance claim. This process may seem daunting at times, especially when you are accustomed to having a medical provider file the claim on your behalf. It’s important to review your health insurance policy, so that you can be familiar with what providers and services are within and outside of your network. KGET Bakersfield reports that Dignity Health is providing new initiatives as they enroll new patients for health insurance.

Work with an Experienced Local Insurance Lawyer in Bakersfield, California.

If your health insurance provider refuses to honor a claim, seek out a qualified Bakersfield insurance claim attorney’s help. An insurance claim attorney can help if you have been improperly denied coverage or sent a bill for a service you never received. We can even help you connect with an attorney across California state lines.

Submit a request online or call us today at (866) 345-6784 to get in touch with an experienced lawyer in your area!

Has reading this article raised questions about a different area of Bakersfield, CA law? Check out more of our articles listed below:

Auto Accident Injury

Bankruptcy

Business Law

Child Birth Injury

Child Custody

Child Support

Consumer Law

Copyright Law

Criminal Defense

Debt Collector Harassment

Divorce Law

DUI Law

Employment Law

Eviction Law

Foreclosure Defense

Identity Theft

Immigration Law

Lemon Law

Medical Malpractice

Nursing Home Abuse

Patent Law

Personal Injury Law

Power of Attorney

Probate Law

Property Disputes

Real Estate Law

Social Security Disability

Tax Law

Traffic Law

Vaccination Injury

Workers Compensation

Workplace Discrimination

Wrongful Termination

Wills and Trusts

How It All Works

Call us or answer the questions on this site. Your category, location, and additional information will help us connect you to a legal professional and we’ll send you the results instantly.

Which Areas of Law?

We have attorneys in over 20 legal categories to choose from.

How Much Does This Cost?

We don’t charge you to be connected. Some legal categories require upfront fees while others do not. The legal professional will determine this with you before you commit to anything.