Insurance Claims in Rhode Island
What Are Insurance Claims?
Filing an insurance claim in Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island property insurance lawyer. Your legal advocate works on your claim to ensure that you receive the benefits necessary to repair or rebuild your Rhode Island 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.Â
The Rhode Island Department of Business and Regulation encourages all homeowners to invest in homeowner’s insurance. This will allow you to be reimbursed for the value of your possessions should a terrible calamity befall your home, such as a fire or a flood. Wind damage is also a common claim in Rhode Island, both from the damage a storm may cause, and from high wind debris such as falling tree limbs. The Rhode Island Residential Code Book goes so far as to designate certain residential areas as wind zones.
How to File a Property Insurance Claim in Rhode Island
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 states that an insurance company in Rhode Island has a set time period of 55 business days in order to pay a legitimate claim. This is generally broken down into 3 separate stages. 10 business days to acknowledge the claim and respond to the policy holder. In these 10 business days they are required to provide you with the proper paperwork to move the claim forward. Then there are 15 business days to decide whether or not to honor or reject the claim. Finally they have 30 business days to pay the claim.
You may want to consider seeking the counsel of an experienced Rhode Island attorney as you file your claim. While most operate in good faith and pay their claims on time, some companies have been found attempting to stall payments, or illegally keep from paying at all. NBC10 WJAR reports that this has even become a problem in the health insurance sector as well.
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 Rhode Island State Police urges you to never leave the scene of an accident. Not only is it illegal, but you may be injured and unaware, and leaving the scene will deprive you of medical treatment you may need. If you are involved in a car accident, pull off to the side of the road. Check yourself, and others for injuries, and call for medical attention if necessary. You should gather as much information as possible, both from those involved and from any bystanders that may have seen the accident.
You’ll have 21 days to fill out an accident report, although this should ideally be done as soon as possible. You should also contact your insurance provider and alert them to the crash. The police report, along with the information you gather, will be crucial when filing your accident claim.
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 Rhode Island.
Health Insurance Claims
Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island?
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.
The Rhode Island Executive Office of Health and Human Services provides online assistance to guide you when filing a health insurance claim. This process can sometimes seem daunting, but it is not overwhelming. This is generally done when you’ve received a service or treatment that is not covered within your network. After you file you may receive an itemized bill totaling your expenses. However, if at any time you feel your health insurance provider is operating, or treating you, unfairly, you may want to seek the counsel of an experienced attorney in Rhode Island.
Work with an Experienced Local Insurance Lawyer in Rhode Island
If your health insurance provider refuses to honor a claim, seek out a qualified Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island 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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