Insurance Claims in Illinois

What Are Insurance Claims?

Filing an insurance claim in Illinois can be a stressful process. Every policy is different, and insurance companies may not pay you what you deserve. In many cases, hiring an insurance claim lawyer 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 Illinois property insurance lawyer. Your legal advocate works on your claim to ensure that you receive the benefits necessary to repair or rebuild your Illinois 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. 

Winter storms can cause heavy damage to homes in Illinois. As a result, news organizations like NBC 5 often report on factors like ice dams destroying property.

The opposite end of the extreme weather spectrum involves tornados and heavy thunderstorms. A funnel cloud touched down in Naperville, ABC 7 collected harrowing stories from locals. Some residents reported a warning of only two minutes before their homes became swept up in the damage.

How to File a Property Insurance Claim in Illinois

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 Illinois law, companies have fifteen days to recognize the claim and send any forms for proof of loss. After accepting an offer, payments should arrive up to 30 days later. While this may represent the general expectation, WalletHub points out that the state does not have a specific timeline. The law asks for a reasonable amount of time, which is vague enough to invite potential legal complications.

On the other hand, the claims process can involve a complicated series of assessments. The adjustor from your carrier may need to work with other specialists before discussing a settlement offer. Engineers, plumbers, and other professionals may need to become involved.

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?

According to the Illinois State Bar Association, the first thing to do after a car accident is to call the police. Regardless of the severity, you should contact the authorities. You must also provide information like your address and vehicle registration.

Before you file a claim, you will want as much material as you can gather to share with insurance carriers. State Farm, which has its headquarters in Bloomington, recommends collecting the following:

• Address for the location of the accident

• Contact information for eyewitnesses

• Name and badge numbers of the police officers

• Vehicle descriptions for each automobile involved in the incident

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 Illinois.

Health Insurance Claims

Illinois 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 Illinois?

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.

If your insurance carrier rejects your claim, the legal entanglements can be exhausting. For example, consider the story of a family from Payson. The Chicago Tribune reported that MeridianHealth denied treatment for a four-year-old five times. While they finally backed down, the stress and suffering alone were significant. If you believe that you received denials without justification, hiring an attorney can be necessary to force a company to do the right thing.

Work with an Experienced Local Insurance Lawyer in Illinois

If your health insurance provider refuses to honor a claim, seek out a qualified Illinois 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 Illinois 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!