Insurance Claims Attorneys in Sioux Falls

Uninsured & Underinsured Motorist Coverage

The uninsured and underinsured motorist provision coverage, as well as medical payments coverage, is very inexpensive. Those benefits should be maintained at levels well over the state minimum. We recommend most people have a minimum of $100,000 in liability and uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage and a minimum of $5,000 in medical payments coverage.

Although liability insurance is required under South Dakota and Iowa law, people often let their insurance coverage lapse. Therefore, the uninsured or underinsured provisions of your insurance coverage are what will protect you when you are injured by the negligence of that uninsured or underinsured driver. When you make an uninsured or underinsured motorist claim, your insurance company must follow certain claim management practices, one of which requires it to fairly value the claim. And to properly document the claim. You have contracted for this insurance coverage with them, and it’s important that they honor their contractual commitment to their insureds.

Too often, insurance companies don’t honor their responsibilities to their clients. Insurance companies tend to delay, deny, or defend the claim. Their concern is not you; their concern is solely about money. They want to evaluate the claim for the absolute minimum they can force somebody to accept on a claim. They don’t care about the injured person. They don’t care about their family or how it’s affected them. They want to be “released from liability” as soon as possible, for as little as possible.

In underinsured cases, it’s vital to have an attorney involved who is experienced in dealing with these technical matters. The policies are complex, and you could end up barring yourself from recovering damages without the experience of an attorney knowledgeable in these areas.

When you look at the costs of the standard auto insurance premium, most of the automobile insurance premium is the cost of the liability coverage, followed by the comprehensive and collision coverage. These are essential insurance coverage, but neither one protects you in an accident. The type of coverage that will protect the person’s interest in the accident is the uninsured or underinsured motorist and medical payments coverage.

What to Do When the Insurance Company Is Not Treating You with Respect

If you are dealing with an insurance company that is not fully and fairly investigating your claim, is refusing to settle a case against you, is making a settlement offer that does not fully and fairly compensate you for your losses, unreasonably delaying payment of insurance benefits that are owed, is asserting sham defenses or interpretations to deny coverage or benefits, or otherwise not honoring its contractual commitment to provide the benefits they promised, then you need an experienced attorney on your side to protect your rights and make sure the insurance company deals with you fairly.

At King Law Firm, we have been fighting insurance companies for our clients for decades, and we know the tricks insurance companies use to deny, delay, or defend legitimate claims. Give us a call to schedule an appointment with one of our attorneys and make sure you receive the insurance benefits that are owed to you, whether you are fighting your own insurance company or a company representing someone else who has caused an accident.

Frequently Asked Questions About Insurance Claims

Insurance is designed to protect you from unexpected events that cause you harm and/or financial losses. Generally, should something unexpected happen, you’ll be able to file a claim, and the insurance will pay out.

Unfortunately, claims aren’t always this straightforward, and your insurer may offer you a lowball settlement or refuse to pay out altogether. Here are some of the most common questions that we hear:

What should I do if an insurance company denies my claim?

Insurers tend to look out for their own interests. They may argue that your coverage did not cover the precise scenario you have encountered. Should this happen, it’s important that you check your policy thoroughly. Insurance policies should be clear, and the terms should not be misleading.

What are the potential reasons for insurance claim denials?

Insurance claims may be denied for several reasons. Often, this happens due to alleged technicalities. The insurance company may argue that your policy did not cover the precise scenario that you found yourself in.

Other common reasons for denials include:

• Alleged failure to pay premiums
• Not filing your claim on time
• A lack of evidence
• Fraudulent claims

What tactics do insurance companies use to delay payment of claims?

Unfortunately, insurance companies may employ tactics aimed at delaying your claim. They may question the extent of your damages and attempt to offer lowball settlements. In some cases, they may also attempt to place the liability entirely on your shoulders.

Should I work with an attorney?

Yes. An insurance attorney will be familiar with all tactics employed by insurance companies to avoid or delay payments. They will help ensure that your insurer acts in good faith.