Insurance Claims in Portland, OR

What Are Insurance Claims?

Filing an insurance claim in Portland, Oregon 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 Portland, Oregon 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.

Flood Factor reports that due to the massive amounts of rainfall that Portland receives every year, many homes are at serious risk of flooding. To combat such an event, the Oregon Division of Financial Resources gives a preparedness list that provides tips that allow you to prevent certain damages, and plan for the aftermath of certain scenarios involving floodwaters. This preparedness list also includes tips on how to handle high winds, hail, loss of electricity, or damage caused by severe cold.

How to File a Property Insurance Claim in Portland, 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 Portland 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.

However, according to Oregon Statutes, Portland insurance companies are not permitted to operate in “bad faith”. This means that they cannot drag 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 Portland attorney, 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 in Portland. 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 to the Portland Police officer that arrives. Make 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 all of the pertinent information you collect, 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 Portland.

Health Insurance Claims

Portland, 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 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 Portland, 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.

Residents of Portland that wish to file a health insurance claim may find the process stressful, 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”. The OSPIRG Foundation provides a guideline on how to respond and protect yourself if a company illegally sends you a surprise medical bill.

Work with an Experienced Local Insurance Lawyer in Portland, Oregon.

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

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