How a Stolen Car Insurance Claim Lawyer Can Help You Get Compensated

Having your car stolen is a nightmare scenario. Not only do you lose your main mode of transportation, you now have to deal with the hassle of filing an insurance claim and fighting to get properly compensated. Many people wrongly assume their auto insurer will handle a stolen vehicle claim fairly. Unfortunately, that is often not the case.

Insurance providers have an incentive to deny or limit payouts on claims whenever possible. Don’t let your insurer take advantage of you during this difficult time. Having an experienced stolen car insurance claim lawyer on your side can make all the difference.

This article will examine how a lawyer can assist you with a stolen car claim, signs your claim is being mishandled, and steps to take if your claim gets denied.

How Can a Lawyer Help With a Stolen Car Claim?

An attorney who specializes in denied or disputed car insurance claims can provide vital help in the following ways:

• Review Your Policy – They will thoroughly examine your auto insurance policy to identify all coverages applicable to a stolen vehicle. This determines what the insurer should owe you.

• Demand Fair Compensation – Based on your coverage limits, they will aggressively demand fair compensation from the insurer. They won’t let the company shortchange or lowball you.

• Prove Your Claim – They will gather convincing evidence like police reports, surveillance video, receipts, valuations, and witness statements to back up your claim.

• Negotiate With the Insurer – Your lawyer will conduct negotiations with the insurance adjuster and demand proper payment of your benefits.

• File Appeals – If your claim gets denied, they will appeal the decision and point out why it’s unwarranted based on the policy terms.

• Take Legal Action – Should your insurer continue to balk at paying your rightful benefits, your attorney can file a lawsuit to recover your compensation.

Having a knowledgeable lawyer in your corner levels the playing field when dealing with a resistant insurance company.

Signs Your Stolen Vehicle Claim is Being Mishandled

Be alert for the following tactics that indicate your insurer may be mishandling your claim:

• Delaying communication and dragging their feet on your claim

• Denying your claim based on petty technicalities in your policy

• Asking for unnecessary documentation unrelated to your loss

• Having you take additional steps not required in your policy before compensating you

• Refusing to reimburse you for the full value of your stolen vehicle

• Making unjustifiably low settlement offers hoping you’ll accept less than you’re owed

• Ignoring evidence you present that supports your claim

• Alleging you made misrepresentations on your policy application as an excuse to deny your claim

• Claiming your policy was not active due to non-payment when you have proof you paid your premiums

If you notice one or more of these red flags, it’s prudent to consult a legal professional immediately about your options.

What to Do if Your Stolen Car Claim is Denied

Despite your best efforts to cooperate with your insurer, you may receive the devastating news that your stolen vehicle claim is denied. This usually occurs because the provider found a minor discrepancy they can use to justify not paying you. Don’t panic. Here are the steps to take:

• Find Out Why – Request the specific reason for your claim denial in writing from the insurer. You need this to appeal it.

• Review Your Policy – Examine your policy again, focusing on the reason given for the denial. Determine if you think the insurer is breaching the terms of the policy by denying your claim.

• Collect Documentation – Gather up evidence like police reports, security footage, valuations, payment receipts, and anything else showing your car was stolen and its value.

• Hire a Lawyer – Contact an experienced stolen vehicle insurance claim attorney immediately. They will review your denial letter, policy terms, and evidence to build a strong appeal case for you.

• Send an Appeal Letter – Your lawyer will draft a thorough, convincing appeal letter stating why the denial is improper and demanding they reverse their decision per the policy terms.

• Initiate Complaints – If the denial is upheld, your attorney can file official complaints with your State Department of Insurance and other regulators.

• Sue for Breach of Contract – As a last resort, your lawyer may file a lawsuit against the insurer for breach of contract to finally get you your owed compensation.

Having an attorney on your side who is ready to appeal a claim denial makes it much harder for an insurance company to continue disregarding your rights.

Why Do Insurers Deny Stolen Car Claims?

Some common reasons your stolen vehicle claim might wrongly be denied include:

• Policy Lapsed – Insurer alleges you stopped paying premiums so coverage was inactive when car was stolen.

• Making Misrepresentations – Insurer claims you lied or omitted information when applying for your policy.

• Car Not Covered – Insurer argues the stolen car was not covered under your active policy.

• No Anti-Theft Devices – Policy requires certain alarms/devices which your car lacked.

• No Proof of Theft – Insurer insists you have insufficient evidence that your car was actually stolen.

• High Claim Value – Insurer tries to avoid paying large claims by improperly denying them.

• Pre-Existing Damage – Insurer blames existing damage on the theft and uses it as an excuse to deny.

If the insurer denies your claim for one of these unjust reasons, a lawyer can get the decision reversed.

Your Legal Options After a Stolen Car Claim Denial

Here are the avenues a skilled attorney can pursue if your stolen vehicle claim is wrongly denied:

• Submit a Formal Appeal – Your lawyer sends a letter contesting the denial, providing evidence, and demanding claim payment.

• File Complaints – Official grievances can be submitted to your State Department of Insurance and the Better Business Bureau describing the claim mishandling.

• Litigation for Breach of Contract – As a last option, your attorney can sue the insurer for breach of contract to force them to honor the policy terms.

• Recover Owed Damages – Through aggressive legal advocacy, your lawyer can compel the insurer to pay all car damages, loss of use, and additional costs you’re entitled to.

Pursuing legal action sends insurers a message that they can’t continue unjustly denying valid stolen car claims.

What Damages Can You Recover in a Stolen Vehicle Claim?

If you have the right insurance coverages, here are the types of damages you can potentially recover:

• Vehicle Value – The fair market value of your stolen car at the time of loss.

• Loss of Use – Payment for rental cars during the claims process.

• Personal Property – Reimbursement for any personal items stolen from inside the vehicle.

• Towing/Storage Fees – Coverage for any towing or impound fees incurred.

• Taxi Fares – Compensation for transportation costs while you’re without a vehicle.

• Child Car Seats – Replacement costs for any car seats for minors that were stolen.

• Diminished Value – If you get your recovered car back, payment for the decrease in value due to the theft.

• Attorney Fees – In a breach of contract suit, the insurer may have to pay your attorney fees.

Why Should You Hire a Lawyer for a Stolen Car Claim?

There are many compelling reasons to have an attorney assist you if you need to make a stolen vehicle claim:

• They have extensive experience negotiating disputed insurance claims.

• They will thoroughly examine your policy coverages and aggressively demand what you’re owed.

• They will fight to prove your claim and gather evidence the insurer must consider.

• They know how to counter standard denial tactics used by insurers.

• They will fully appeal any improper claim denials or delays.

• They can file official complaints against insurers violating regulations.

• They are prepared to take legal action if the insurer won’t provide fair compensation.

• They will alleviate the stress of wrangling with your insurer while you’re already distressed.

• They work on a contingency basis, so you pay no attorney fees unless they win your case.

Why take chances trying to force an unwilling insurer to pay your stolen car claim? Let an attorney deal with them while you focus on the disruption to your life. They have the tenacity and legal firepower to get insurers to do the right thing.

Questions to Ask a Potential Lawyer for Your Stolen Car Claim

When researching attorneys to potentially hire, here are some good questions to ask:

• How many years have you been handling denied stolen vehicle claims?

• What strategies do you use to deal with uncooperative insurers?

• What is your success rate appealing improperly denied theft claims?

• What steps will you take if the insurer further delays or denies my claim?

• Are you willing to