Insurance Claims in Savannah, GA
What Are Insurance Claims?
Filing an insurance claim in Savannah, Georgia 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 Savannah, Georgia 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.
According to USA.com, Savannah homeowners also face damage from thunderstorm winds, floods and hail. Be aware, standard homeowner policies do not cover flooding. However, Savannah homeowners can purchase coverage through the National Flood Insurance Program.
How to File a Property Insurance Claim in Savannah, Georgia
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
Savannah homeowners enjoy the protection of Georgia’s Unfair Claims Settlement Practices Act. For instance, Savannah insurers must respond to all insurance claims within certain time limitations. Specifically, an insurer has 15 days to acknowledge receipt of a claim, and to provide all required proof-of-loss forms. Additionally, the insurer must accept or deny a claim within 15 days after receiving all fully executed forms.
Investigating claims can be a complex process that can require multiple visits from an adjuster. If the insurer needs more time to complete the investigation, they must notify the claimant at least 5 days before the time limit is up. However, once a settlement offer is approved, the insurer must pay the claim within 10 days.
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?
If you are involved in a car accident in Savannah, stay at the scene and call 911 for medical emergencies. Under Georgia Code, Savannah drivers must notify the Savannah Police Department immediately if the crash involved injuries, death, or at least $500 in property damage. If the collision occurs outside the city, you must notify the Chatham County Sheriff or the Georgia State Patrol.
Next, you should notify your insurance agent since Georgia is an at-fault state for auto insurance. This means a driver can seek damages from the at-fault driver’s insurance company. However, proving fault can often be difficult. Consequently, you should not admit fault at the scene. It is also important to get a copy of the written accident report from the police. An experienced Savannah insurance attorney can help optimize the outcome of your 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 Savannah.
Health Insurance Claims
Savannah, Georgia 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 Savannah, Georgia?
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.
According to Vox.com, Georgia is one of four states in which Anthem has begun denying coverage for ER visits. Specifically, Anthem, one of the country’s largest health insurers, will not cover trips that it deems “not true emergencies”. These denials are made after patients visit the ER with emergency symptoms. However, the coverage decision is based on the diagnosis after seeing a doctor, not the symptoms that sent the person to the ER. Savannah residents should be aware of potential coverage disputes for expensive trips to the ER.
Work with an Experienced Local Insurance Lawyer in Savannah, Georgia.
If your health insurance provider refuses to honor a claim, seek out a qualified Savannah 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 Georgia 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!
