Insurance Disputes

DON’T GET TRICKED BY AN INSURANCE COMPANY

After a motor vehicle accident or injury at home or on a commercial premises, people are faced with a confusion of insurance coverage questions. And sometimes, insurance companies, for their own benefit, will want to keep an injured person “in the dark” about the kinds of coverages available to them.

Insurance adjusters and representatives are skilled in trying to “push down” the amount of damages that are rightfully yours.

Remember, insurance companies first goal is to make money for themselves. Insurance company representatives often fail to inform even their own customers of the coverages they have or will often try to ‘beat back’ claims made under an injured person’s own policy or that of the ‘at fault driver’. Insurance companies that put their interests ahead of their customers or decieve their customers can commit “Bad Faith” insurance practices for which separate damages over and above your existing coverages (described below) are available to you. For these reasons, it is essential that you contact me immediately. I have been dealing with nearly all the major and minor insurance companies doing business in this state, for over 20 years.

Third Party Liability Coverage: When a driver causes you injury, and they have insurance coverage, you are entitled to receive compensation, as a “third party”, under the wrongdoer’s policy. This includes compensation for pain and suffering, past and future medical expenses, loss of income and the reduction in the quality of one’s life. Everyone who registers a car in Arizona must have liability insurance.

Uninsured Motorist Coverage: Drivers will often let their insurance lapse and be cancelled for non-payment. Yet they continue to drive and, if they cause an injury producing accident, the other injured driver or pedestrian not at fault, is simply out of luck, unless you purchased Uninsured Motorist Coverage, known as “UM Coverage”. Since there are so many vehicle owners in Arizona who operate their vehicles without insurance, it is absolutely essential that you purchase this coverage.

Underinsured Motorist Coverage: Oftentimes, the ‘at fault driver’ may have minimum insurance which under Arizona State law, need only be coverage limits of $15,000 for a single injured not at fault driver, passenger or pedestrian. So if both your legs have to be amputated, this means that you will only receive $15,000 or $7,500 per leg. For reasons such as this, it is essential that you get Underinsured Motorist Coverage, known as “UIM Coverage”, in the maximum amounts available. This insurance increases your recovery.

Medical Payments Coverage: In addition to whatever health insurance an injured person may have through work, auto insurers sell, but don’t encourage customers to buy, Medical Payments Coverage (“Med Pay”). This insurance can be bought, at very low cost over the year, in amounts generally ranging from $1,000 – $10,000. It pays for your medical treatment on top of whatever other insurance is available, such as the other driver’s liability insurance or personal health insurance you have. This insurance can only increase your recovery in an auto or motorcycle accident case and must be bought from your own auto insurer.

The law provides the means to make a claim or even sue an insurance company for Bad Faith conduct. If you believe you have been deceived or misled by an insurance company call me.

Call: 602-254-7740 (24 hrs.) or 602-274-1110. 

Act quickly to protect your rights.