Insurance Claims in Flint, MI
What Are Insurance Claims?
Filing an insurance claim in Flint, Michigan 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 Flint, Michigan 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.
According to World Population Review, Michigan is one of the safest states when it comes to natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, flooding, and earthquakes. These events still happen, but typically less frequently and less severely than in other parts of the country. Consequently, Michigan homeowners generally pay lower premiums compared to much of the country. The Insurance Information Institute ranked Michigan 35th in the US for average homeowners’ insurance premiums. However, a Flint homeowner may still need to obtain coverage for theft or fires, which most policies will cover.
How to File a Property Insurance Claim in Flint, Michigan
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
Under Michigan law, your insurer has 30 days to provide you with proof-of-loss forms and instructions. Before your claim can be settled, an insurance adjuster will determine the extent of the damages. Generally, the adjuster will estimate the cost of repairs by using the standard rates for contractors in Flint. Once the insurer has valid proof of loss, they typically must pay the settlement within 60 days.
Keep in mind, the insurer may deny your claim or may offer you an unfair settlement. If this happens, Michigan’s Department of Insurance and Financial Services (DIFS) recommends trying to resolve the dispute directly with your insurer. If this proves unsuccessful, you can file a complaint with the DIFS. Keep in mind, a Flint insurance attorney can help you prepare your claim, and help determine if a lawsuit is a viable next step.
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?
Under Michigan statute, Flint drivers must notify the Flint Police Department for all accidents involving injury, death, or property damage of at least $1,000. If the accident occurs outside of the city, you can contact the Genesee County Sheriff or Michigan Highway Patrol. However, the state does not require that you file a police report.
Your next call should be to your insurance company. Michigan law requires you to have no-fault automobile insurance on your car. If you have an accident in Flint, your insurance pays for injuries to people. It will also cover the damage your car does to other people’s property and to properly parked cars. However, it does not pay for other damage to cars. You must buy collision coverage if you want coverage since the other driver’s insurance will not pay for damage to your car.
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 Flint.
Health Insurance Claims
Flint, Michigan 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 be 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 Flint, Michigan?
Health insurance claims can be filed in two ways. In many cases, the medical facility will handle the process and notify your insurer directly, which may allow you to leave without making an upfront payment, depending on your policy. However, if you receive care from an out-of-network provider, you may need to file the claim yourself. While some facilities may assist with submitting the claim, it’s often your responsibility to ensure it is properly filed.
According to the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Regulation (DIFS), if your health insurer denies your claim, you have the right to appeal the decision. Your first step is to pursue the health carrier’s internal grievance process. If you have exhausted that process, you can initiate an external review with the DIFS. You can also start an external review if the health carrier fails to provide a determination within the mandated time frame. Be aware, there is an expedited external review process available if the normal timeframe would pose a health risk. In this case, the review is conducted within 72 hours and requires your treating physician to verify the necessity.
Work with an Experienced Local Insurance Lawyer in Flint, Michigan.
If your health insurance provider refuses to honor a claim, seek out a qualified Flint 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 Michigan 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!
About the Author
Aaron is a professional legal writer with a B.S. in English Education from Southern Illinois University – Carbondale. He has written, published, and edited thousands of legal articles for RequestLegalHelp, which has connected over 5 million people to legal help in the United States.
With over five years of experience writing thousands of legal articles for law firms across the U.S. and Canada, Aaron specializes in covering federal, state, and city-level legal issues ranging from auto accidents to wrongful terminations.
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