Insurance Claims in Virginia Beach, VA
What Are Insurance Claims?
Filing an insurance claim in Virginia Beach, Virginia 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 Virginia Beach, Virginia 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.
The State Corporation Commission of Virginia encourages all residents of Virginia Beach to ensure their property, both homes and vehicles, against the possibility of severe weather and winter storms. A large part of property damage claims filed in Virginia Beach are due to weather related incidents. For example: wind and hail, flooding, and bursting pipes due to icy temperatures. The Virginian Pilot reports that 20 homes were damaged in a recent storm. Some even had the roofs partially torn off by the wind.
How to File a Property Insurance Claim in Virginia Beach, Virginia
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 confirms that Virginia Beach insurance companies are under no legally mandated timeline to pay your claim. They are simply expected to pay in a prompt and timely manner, but there is no definition set forth for these terms. However, for certain property claims, such as an auto claim, the majority of companies in Virginia Beach try to pay a legitimate claim within 30 days.
However, there are certain companies that try to find ways around insurance laws. These companies may try to drag out the process, or even deny a legitimate claim and attempt not to pay their obligation. These are what are known as bad faith actions. Virginia Law prohibits such bad faith actions, as well as any additional unfair settlement practices.
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 Virginia Department of Transportation offers roadside services for any Norfolk resident that has been involved in a traffic accident. You must never flee the scene of an accident, but rather you should pull your car to the side of the road. Make sure to check yourself and others for injuries, and alert any medical help if necessary. You should gather information from all the drivers involved; including names, insurance information, and license plates. You may also want to gather information from any bystanders who witnessed the crash.
Make sure to give your statement to whichever officer from the Virginia Beach Police Department arrives on the scene. As you’re gathering information, be sure to get the name and badge number of the officer that takes your statement. Once you’re free to leave, you should contact your insurance company and alert them 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 Virginia Beach.
Health Insurance Claims
Virginia Beach, Virginia 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 Virginia Beach, Virginia?
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.
Virginia Medicaid provides outreach materials for those residents of Virginia Beach that are seeking to file a health insurance claim on their own behalf. While many choose to allow their health care providers to file for them, circumstances may arise when you have to file a claim yourself. This could result in having received treatment outside your network. Generally, you will receive an itemized bill detailing services rendered, and a sum total that you owe. However, if you feel that your insurance carrier is acting in bad faith, you should seek the counsel of an experienced attorney in Virginia Beach.
Work with an Experienced Local Insurance Lawyer in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
If your health insurance provider refuses to honor a claim, seek out a qualified Virginia Beach 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 Virginia 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!
