| Unscrupulous insurance companies will use your | | | | inspection at the time the policy was purchased. |
| insurance policy as a basis to deny claims rather than | | | | Further, you disclosed all equipment installed on the |
| as a basis to pay them. Flawed, faulty, or unfair | | | | vehicle when the policy was issued. You have a |
| insurance policy interpretation is characteristic of the | | | | reasonable expectation that this equipment is |
| widespread and out of control tactics insurance | | | | covered under the terms of your contract. |
| companies will use to delay, reduce, or deny | | | | In this instance your insurance company is delaying |
| payment of your claim. | | | | payment of your claim by redefining the language of |
| When you purchase insurance, you are entering into | | | | the contract. You have adhered to your obligations |
| a contract between yourself and your insurance | | | | of disclosure, and you have paid your premiums. |
| company. This contract, or policy, establishes all | | | | What should you do? |
| terms and conditions of your insurance coverage. | | | | You need to do your personal homework. Review |
| An insurance contract is considered a contract of | | | | your information. Have you studied the policy |
| adhesion. Simply put, this means that the carrier | | | | language? What would the prudent and reasonable |
| draws up the policy and presents it to the | | | | person conclude? Is your argument valid? Did you |
| policyholder, the insured. Because the insured has no | | | | adequately present all details relative to your vehicle |
| input to amend the terms of the policy the burden of | | | | at the time you insured it? Did you have a legitimate |
| ambiguity is placed on the insurance company. The | | | | expectation that the subject equipment was |
| benefit of doubt must be made to the favor of the | | | | covered? |
| insured. | | | | If you believe the facts support you, continue to |
| But insurance companies successfully bank on the | | | | pursue your position. Your best weapon in protecting |
| chances that the majority of policyholders do not | | | | yourself against questionable claims practices is to |
| understand their rights. To the contrary, insurance | | | | know your policy. |
| companies will assert that there is no flexibility | | | | - You must study and understand your insurance |
| beyond their interpretation of your policy. When you | | | | policy. Your insurance company assumes you will not |
| file a claim, these companies will seek to delay or | | | | do this. |
| deny your claim based on what it considers any | | | | - You have a duty to disclose all relevant facts at the |
| perceived or contested policy ambiguities. | | | | time you apply for your policy or your policy can be |
| As an example, assume that you have filed a claim | | | | declared void. |
| for damages to your vehicle caused by a traffic | | | | - Your insurance carrier likewise has a duty to fairly |
| accident. In the course of your claim you are advised | | | | apply the terms of the contract. |
| by your adjuster that your claim is under additional | | | | - Be assertive in your demands to effect a |
| investigation because a specific portion of your policy | | | | satisfactory conclusion to your claim. |
| excludes coverage for portable equipment which is | | | | - Insurance companies will search for claims specific |
| not permanently installed on or in the vehicle. You | | | | ambiguities in your policy to their benefit in order to |
| counter that permanently installed is vague and that | | | | avoid payment of your claim. They must be able to |
| you presented your vehicle to your agent for | | | | support their conclusions. |