Insurance Claims in Wyoming
What Are Insurance Claims?
Filing an insurance claim in Wyoming 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 Wyoming property insurance lawyer. Your legal advocate works on your claim to ensure that you receive the benefits necessary to repair or rebuild your Wyoming 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.
Thunderstorms, hail, wildfires, tornadoes, and blizzards are all threats that Wyoming property owners need to prepare for. Because of this, it is important to have the right amount of coverage for your location and budget. However, it is also important to know when to file a claim and when not to. CBS News reports that Wyoming residents face the highest premium increases in the country when they file even one claim. In fact, your premiums could go up more than 30%. Therefore, you should make sure you understand the limits of your policy so you can decide whether filing a claim is your best choice.
How to File a Property Insurance Claim in Wyoming
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
Once you make your claim, the insurance company needs to verify and assess the damages. This investigation process can take a while, especially after a large storm or other disaster. However, the insurance company cannot unreasonably delay the process. In fact, under the Wyoming Insurance Code, the insurer must either deny or pay the claim within 45 days of receiving proof of loss documentation.
If you feel that your insurance company has been unfair, either through delays, claim denial, or a low settlement offer, you have recourse. As a first step, you can try to negotiate with the company to reconsider. However, if this does not work you may need to involve the Wyoming Department of Insurance or file a lawsuit. Your Wyoming insurance attorney can help you determine the best way to get a fair settlement.
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?
After a minor fender bender, it may be fine to just exchange information with the other driver and not involve the police. However, after most Wyoming accidents, you must immediately notify law enforcement. According to the Wyoming Department of Transportation, this rule applies if there are any injuries or if the apparent damages are at least $1,000. As of 2013, drivers no longer have to file an additional accident report, as the police will take care of it.
Your next step is to notify your insurance company. According to WYcarinsurance.com, Wyoming, like most states, is a fault insurance state. This means that the at-fault driver’s insurance pays for the damages. However, it will only pay up to the policy limits. Because of this, many Wyoming drivers opt to add collision and uninsured motorist coverage on top of their mandatory liability insurance.
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 Wyoming.
Health Insurance Claims
Wyoming 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 Wyoming?
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 WyoFile, Wyoming has some of the highest healthcare prices in the U.S. Unfortunately, that leads to high premiums for health insurance. This makes it all the more important to ensure that you are receiving the coverage you pay for. If your insurance company denies your claim, in whole or in part, it is typically worth the effort to appeal the decision. In some cases, you can also request an external review through the Wyoming Insurance Department. In addition, your Wyoming attorney can help you determine whether you have grounds for a lawsuit.
Work with an Experienced Local Insurance Lawyer in Wyoming
If your health insurance provider refuses to honor a claim, seek out a qualified Wyoming 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 Wyoming 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!
Other areas of Wyoming law could apply to your case!