If you continue to suffer connected losses after an accident-caused injury, you may wonder, “Can a closed insurance claim be reopened?” Sometimes, the injuries you suffer due to someone else’s carelessness lead to ongoing problems or additional health issues. You might anticipate continued medical bills and related losses from lost wages.
Can a Closed Insurance Claim Be Reopened?
Unfortunately, if you accept a settlement, you typically can’t reopen an insurance claim, which is precisely why you need a knowledgeable lawyer on your side.
Too many individuals accept low offers and mistakenly give up their ability to sue after a car accident is settled or reopen the claim if they subsequently find they need more money.
Having legal representation from the beginning of your claim can ensure that you receive complete reimbursement the first time.
Why Might You Need to Reopen a Closed Insurance Claim?
Reopening your claim could help you collect the money you deserve if you weren’t completely rewarded at the initial filing.
One of the best methods to reduce your family’s financial exposure in the event of a tragedy is to have a solid insurance policy. You should typically make a claim with your insurance company as soon as an accident, damage, or injury occurs.
Following that, per the terms of your policy, you will be paid an amount up to the coverage maximum that covers the cost of the damage (and minus deductibles, of course).
When someone files a claim, not all harm resulting from an accident is evident. After receiving their initial reimbursement, policyholders frequently don’t fully comprehend the magnitude of the harm or injuries until weeks, months, or even years later.
Many people may be compelled to pay out of pocket for something that their insurance should have covered due to this discrepancy between the payment and the actual amount of accident damages covered—unless they renew their claim with their insurance provider.
Reopening a claim with your insurance agent may seem difficult at first, but it’s the best way to avoid using your own money to cover losses that you either couldn’t see or didn’t notice immediately.
A Settled Insurance Claim Might not Have Covered Whole Losses
It’s easy to get swamped by the mounting medical costs and missed income after being hurt due to someone else’s negligence, on top of the stress brought on by the physical and mental agony and suffering you’ve experienced.
It makes sense that you would want to resolve your claim and resume your life as soon as possible, but moving too quickly will not be in your best interests or the interests of your claim.
In truth, many insurance companies are more than willing to make initial settlement offers that ultimately fall far short of fully compensating their claimants’ damages.
Typically, Policyholders Have Up to One Year to Reopen a Claim
Time is of the essence when it comes to reopening an insurance claim. It is easier to demonstrate that the additional damages in question directly originated from the same accident or incident covered by the previous settlement the sooner you reopen a claim after filing your initial claim.
The amount of time that has passed before a claim can be reopened is likewise governed by Nevada law.
This restriction is typically one year, but it may be much lower or higher in some states or for certain forms of insurance. In either case, the faster you reopen a claim, the less difficult it will be to navigate the process.
Maintain Meticulous Records and Gather Written and Visual Proof for Both the Initial and Reopened Claims
You will need a lot of the paperwork submitted with your initial claim to effectively reopen an insurance claim and considerable documentation of the accident.
Naturally, you’ll also need fresh evidence to support your decision to reopen the claim.
When taken as a whole, this evidence must show that the insurance company did not completely compensate you for the loss that gave rise to your initial claim. Insurance companies act in bad faith when they refuse to pay a claim without a reasonable basis or without properly investigating.
Additionally, the evidence must demonstrate that all the damages you are currently trying to claim from your insurance were a direct result of the first damages and that none of them arose later (i.e., after the initial claim).
Before your insurance claim expires, be sure to include all of your medical expenses.
The associated medical costs can be high, even if your wounds are quite small.
In order to protect your right to the fullest recovery possible, your personal injury claim must take into account the reality that your injuries may require continuing care. Typical medical costs include:
- Emergency services
- Inpatient care
- Surgery and medication
- Occupational and physical therapy
Your Diminished Income
Your income may suffer as you concentrate on getting your health and wellness back. The financial repercussions may be considerably more severe if your earning capacity is impacted.
Additionally, there may be emotional repercussions if your occupation is derailed in addition to the economic hit.
Your Pain and Suffering
One of the most severe losses you may face is the bodily and mental agony and suffering you endure due to being hurt as a result of someone else’s carelessness.
To make sure that your settlement amount appropriately accounts for the actual losses you’ve suffered, it’s imperative to make sure that this aspect of your loss is clearly specified in your claim.
Closed Insurance Claims
Once you approve a claim settlement, the answer to, “Can a closed insurance claim be reopened?” may be more complicated. The compensation you accept must accurately account for the entire extent of your accident-related damages.
A Reno car accident lawyer can maximize your settlement by persuasively arguing for a settlement that fully compensates you for your losses.
