Insurance Claims in Oregon

What Are Insurance Claims?

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

Flood Factor reports that there are over 314,000 properties in Oregon, and more than 25% of these properties are at risk for flooding. The Oregon Division of Financial Resources gives a preparedness list, and allows you to plan for certain damages that are the result of storms. These incidents include flooding, but also high winds, hail, loss of electricity, or damage caused by severe cold.

How to File a Property Insurance Claim in Oregon

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 affirms that insurance companies in Oregon generally have 60 days to confirm or deny a claim. This is usually broken up into 2 parts. They have 30 days to acknowledge the claim and send the proper paperwork to the policy holder, and 30 days to make a decision whether to accept or deny the claim. This can be a stressful process, but it is important to remember that it is a process. The company may even lengthen the timeline by asking for more information. This could come in the form of asking for more pictures, or even doing a second inspection of the damage.

However, according to Oregon Statutes, insurance companies are not permitted to operate in “bad faith”. This means that they are forbidden from dragging out the process indefinitely in an attempt to avoid paying legitimate claims. If you feel that you have been the victim of such practices, you should seek out the counsel of an experienced attorney in Oregon, and file a complaint with the Oregon Department of Financial Regulation.

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?

Oregon Driver and Motor Vehicle Services gives a full accounting of the steps you should take if you have been involved in a car accident. Make sure to stop at the scene of the accident and check for injuries for anyone that was involved, including yourself. You should gather as much information as possible about any of the drivers involved. For example: their name, make and model of their car, and their insurance information. You should also gather information from any bystanders who may have seen the accident.

Call the police and give your statement, making sure to get the name and badge number of the officer. Finally, you should contact your insurance agent and alert them to the accident. Share the information you have collected, and be available if they have any follow up questions.

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 Oregon.

Health Insurance Claims

Oregon 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 Oregon?

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.

Filing a health insurance claim for yourself may seem daunting, especially if you’ve generally had a medical facility file on your behalf. The Oregon Health Authority provides a brief overview to help you when filing a claim for yourself. However, In the past there were times when you could receive what’s known as a “surprise bill”. This occurred when you receive a service or treatment that is not listed in your healthcare network, ranging from an ambulance ride to a type of physical therapy. However, KGW reports that a law was signed in 2020 preventing such bills.

Work with an Experienced Local Insurance Lawyer in Oregon

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