Insurance Claims in St. Louis, MO

What Are Insurance Claims?

Filing an insurance claim in St. Louis, Missouri 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 St. Louis, Missouri 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.

Storm Highway reports that since 1950, a tornado has affected a St. Louis county once every 2 years. Spectrum News states that while Missouri is not technically part of tornado alley, they are still in the top ten for tornado events every year. In addition to claims resulting from storms, St. Louis residents commonly file claims associated with theft and burglary. FOX 2 Now provides statistics to show that St. Louis, along with Springfield and Kansas City, are all included in the top 10 in the U.S. for rising crime statistics.

How to File a Property Insurance Claim in St. Louis, Missouri

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

Missouri’s Unfair Claims Settlement Process, while helpful to St. Louis residents, does not establish a strict timeline that insurance companies must adhere to when paying a claim. The company is given 10 days to acknowledge a claim, and provide you with the proper paperwork to move the claim forward. The company is then given 15 days to approve or deny the claim. Once a claim is approved is when the situation gets a little murky. St. Louis insurers are directed to pay the claim in a “prompt and timely manner”, but there is no specification of what this means.

If you feel your insurance company is operating in bad faith, either denying a legitimate claim or dragging out the payment process, you don’t have to sit and do nothing. You can take your concerns to an experienced St. Louis attorney and formulate a plan to get the money that you are owed.

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?

Being involved in an auto accident in St. Louis can be stressful. If this happens, the first thing you must try to do is remain calm. The Missouri Department of Revenue advises you never to flee the scene of the accident. This is illegal, and will only compound the situation.

You should pull your car out of the flow of traffic and check yourself for injuries. Check anyone else involved in the crash, and if necessary, contact emergency services. Call the St. Louis Police Department and wait for an officer to arrive on the scene. You should exchange insurance information with everyone involved in the accident, and make sure to get information from any bystanders present. After you give your statement to the police, contact your insurance agent and alert the company to the crash.

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 St. Louis.

Health Insurance Claims

St. Louis, Missouri 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 St. Louis, Missouri?

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 St. Louis that have to file a health insurance claim for themselves can find an online guide provided by Missouri CLAIM. While most choose to allow their healthcare provider to file on their behalf, you may be required to file for yourself if you have received treatment or care outside your healthcare network.  If you receive an itemized bill, you should always make sure to thoroughly look through the charges and be certain you are not being billed for a service you did not receive.

Work with an Experienced Local Insurance Lawyer in St. Louis, Missouri.

If your health insurance provider refuses to honor a claim, seek out a qualified St. Louis 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 Missouri 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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