It is never easy to deal with a car accident and the aftermath — whether that's in the form of medical bills from the hospital, car damage, or a totally upended lifestyle.

This is made all that much worse, then, when your car insurance claim is denied. However, if you know what to do after your car insurance claim is denied, then you’ll be able to move forward with confidence.

So, here's how to react when your car insurance claim is denied, with a little help from

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Understand why your claim was denied

Car insurance companies don’t just deny your claim because they feel like it.

Since there is a rational process which they use to make a decision on your claim, you should be given a clear reason why your claim is denied. This means that you can possibly identify a mistake and rectify the situation.

There are many reasons the car insurance company might give, but you can look for a few common reasons your claim might be denied.

The simplest could be that you filed a claim for something that was not covered. For instance, if you only have liability coverage and not

comprehensive

, your claim could be denied.

Likewise, if you have uninsured motorist coverage on your plan, and you filed a claim with that protection in mind but it turned out the other person had coverage, your claim might be denied. You may not have coverage because you did not follow policy guidelines involving adding cars or making payments.

MORE:

Tips to avoid having your car insurance claim denied

Verify that the insurance company’s reasoning is valid

Once you know the reason why you were denied a claim, you can verify whether it's a legitimate reason.

If, for instance, you were denied a claim because your insurance coverage says that you lapsed in payment, but you are sure you did pay, you can provide proof by showing a bank statement.

At any rate, the point is that you have recourse to any proof disputing what the car insurance company is saying, which allows you to protect yourself and have your claim fulfilled. Remember, an insurer can make a mistake just like anyone else. Don't assume the carrier is correct until you have verified the situation for yourself.

Appeal the decision

Provide the proof that the claim was wrongfully denied to the insurance in writing or by contacting the proper state agency.

States have insurance commissioners which can provide assistance in some way. Hopefully, however, providing the proof in writing will be enough to get the ball rolling.

MORE:

How long do you have to file a claim?

Get a lawyer

If nothing else works, then you can hire a lawyer to help you get what you believe is rightfully yours.

Legal representation can provide you with the necessary advice and, if necessary, help you sue the insurance company so you can receive what belongs to you. This might be a drawn-out process, but may be what is required to have your claim accepted.

Knowing what to do after your car insurance claim is denied is essential. If you are able to respond promptly and determine what the issue is, then you can discover either that your claim was rightfully denied, or you can take steps to rectify the situation.

Getting the right insurance

If you have a solid insurance package, you might find that your claims are declined infrequently. For the best rate on

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And to ensure you always have the lowest rate, Jerry will send you new quotes every time your policy comes up for renewal, so you’re always getting the coverage you want at the best price.

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