Insurance Claims in North Dakota

What Are Insurance Claims?

Filing an insurance claim in North Dakota 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 North Dakota property insurance lawyer. Your legal advocate works on your claim to ensure that you receive the benefits necessary to repair or rebuild your North Dakota 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. 

North Dakota sees its fair share of property damage from severe storms. Tornadoes, flash floods, and high winds can wreak havoc on your home in a hurry. In June 2021, the Bismarck Tribune reported a nasty weather system in Williams County. During this particular event, hail as large as 2 ½ inches pelted the area. If your house has been through a similar event, you can wind up in a battle with the insurance carrier for repairs. As a result, hiring an attorney becomes necessary to protect most individuals’ most significant investments.

How to File a Property Insurance Claim in North Dakota

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

WalletHub reports that companies do not have a certain amount of time to resolve claims. Under North Dakota law, insurance carriers are not guilty of bad faith unless they act beyond what seems reasonable. This vagueness in current legal statutes can make litigation more difficult to pursue.

Under normal circumstances, you will meet with an adjuster, gather quotes, and schedule temporary repairs. But, certain behaviors may meet the legal standard for bad faith actions by the insurance company. If you believe one or more of the following applies to your circumstances, you may have a viable civil case:

• Purposeful misrepresentation of the coverage under your policy

• Coercive or intimidating tactics

• Producing fake or false financial statements

• Failure to give prompt answers to all communications

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?

The AARP recommends pulling over, checking for injuries, and calling the police immediately after an accident. With these steps complete, you need to start collecting information. Some of the top priorities should include:

• Cell phone pictures of damaged vehicles

• Insurance policy details

• Year, make, model, and VINs

• Contact information for witnesses

Despite the temptation, avoid discussing responsibility at all costs. Even if you were not at fault, leave that detail to an attorney. Motorists in North Dakota who engage in this conversation can limit their options. Even worse, anything you mention regarding guilt may become detrimental to a future court case.

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 North Dakota.

Health Insurance Claims

North Dakota 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 North Dakota?

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.

Regrettably, receiving denials for prescribed treatments or medications is a regular occurrence. An example of this activity in North Dakota comes from reporting by Becker’s Healthcare. After an investigation, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota paid a fine for denying substance abuse and mental health treatment. If you feel that your carrier has acted in bad faith, you have a right to consider litigation.

Work with an Experienced Local Insurance Lawyer in North Dakota

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