Liberty Mutual has also outright denied claims.
If you’ve looked online, you would see that auto insurer Liberty Mutual has built quite a reputation over the past few years for unfairly denying insurance claims. Many outraged consumers have taken to the internet to complain that Liberty Mutual has denied them benefits to which they were entitled.
At our law firm, we have gone toe to toe with most of the largest insurers in Washington, including Liberty Mutual. We are prepared to seek a favorable settlement that fully compensates you for your injuries. However, we need to hear from you so we can begin to develop your case.
Common Complaints about Liberty Mutual
Headquartered in Massachusetts, Liberty Mutual has developed a reputation for employing hardball tactics to get claimants to accept far less in compensation than they deserve. For example, Liberty Mutual has:
- Delayed investigation into the accident, which only delays any payout of compensation.
- Defended their drivers by claiming another driver was negligent and primarily responsible for his or her own injuries.
- Made ridiculously low initial settlement offers which are worth a fraction of a client’s real economic and non-economic losses.
- Delayed payment in the hopes of wearing down a claimant and getting him or her to accept whatever crumbs Liberty Mutual offers after stonewalling for months.
Liberty Mutual has also outright denied claims. For example, they might claim that car damage has been caused by normal wear and tear and not from a collision, which means that it is not covered by their policy. As a result, the claimant ends up with absolutely no compensation for any damage done to their vehicle.
LEGITIMATE REASONS FOR A DENIAL
Not all denials are unfair. Take out your denial letter from Liberty Mutual and closely analyze the reason given for not paying out a claim. For example, the following are some common situations where Liberty Mutual might have a valid reason for denying a claim:
- The policy doesn’t cover the accident or damage. For example, you might have suffered serious injuries, but Liberty Mutual only provides liability insurance, which means it only covers those you have injured.
- You delayed seeking medical treatment. Any delay looks suspicious as if you were injured by something else other than the car accident
- Your coverage has lapsed because of non-payment or another reason. If a policy is no longer in effect, an insurer does not need to pay out a claim.
- Your vehicle is not covered under the policy.
- The amount claimed is more than the policy limits. The insurance company does not have to pay above and beyond that point. Instead, it should pay up to the policy limit and deny the rest.
How to Respond to a Denial by Liberty Mutual
Whether you were injured by a driver covered by Liberty Mutual, or are a Liberty Mutual policyholder yourself, you need to take certain steps to make sure that your rights are protected in the event of a denial. Remember the following:
- Provide all information requested by Liberty Mutual in a timely and thorough fashion. Unfortunately, we’ve met with claimants who didn’t really do what they were supposed to do when making a claim, in which case they bear some of the blame for the denial. It’s harder to clean up a mess than to avoid one in the first place.
- Keep detailed records of all communications with Liberty Mutual. Preserve all letters and voicemail messages. If you talk to someone on the phone, then fully document the substance of the conversation, as well as when it occurred and who you spoke with. You might need to refer back to the conversation later.
- Note the reason for your denial or delay. Liberty Mutual should tell you why they are not paying a claim promptly. If you receive confusing or conflicting reasons, then you probably have a strong case.
You should also consult with an experienced attorney, who can help you identify your best options. If the insurance company is merely taking too long, you can spur them to act by writing them a letter. Conversely, if Liberty Mutual has denied your claim, you might need to bring an appeal with the company.
Can a lawyer help?
Yes. Lawyers are often very helpful when dealing with an insurance company. For example, if you are an injured motorist whose claim has been denied, you need compensation. Your personal injury protection benefits might be inadequate. An attorney can help make a compelling case that you are entitled to benefits under the terms of the policy.
A lawyer is not helpful in every situation, though. If all you are seeking is a few thousand dollars in repairs for your vehicle, then a lawyer might be too expensive. However, you could still file a complaint with the state’s Office of the Insurance Commissioner, which is empowered to investigate any allegations of fraud or other misconduct.