What happens if I disagree with American Family’s decision on my auto insurance claim?

American Family, or AmFam, is a Fortune 500 company that offers a wide range of financial protection products, including auto insurance. However, despite the company’s strong reputation, if you’re an AmFam customer, the company may sometimes deny your claim.

But what happens if you disagree with American Family’s decision on your auto insurance claim? This can be a challenging situation, so it’s important to understand your options.

First, begin with learning how auto insurance claims work and the damage appraisal process, then you can learn how to appeal. In this article, we’ll explore what happens if you disagree with American Family’s decision on your auto insurance claim. What happens if I disagree with the insurance company’s decision on my claim is an important question that many policyholders may have. (For more information, read our “What documentation do I need to file an auto insurance claim with American Family?“).

What to Do After American Family’s Unfavorable Claim Decision

When you receive a denial or settlement letter from American Family, take a closer look to understand the reasons for the company’s decision. If you believe a misunderstanding or lack of crucial information caused the denial, you can take the following steps to address it:

• Check your insurance policy: Be sure to understand your policy’s validity, limits, deductibles, and coverage before you decide to appeal.
• Contact your claims representative: Ask your representative at American Family how to register an appeal.
• Collate evidence: You must gather relevant photographs, estimates, police reports, witnesses, and passengers. You need to file a police report after an accident in specific situations.
• Write an appeal letter: The letter should explain why American Family should review the decision and the evidence you have that supports your claim. Attach your evidence to this letter

An attorney can review your claim and the available documentation to prepare a more effective appeal if needed. They can also send a demand letter to American Family, requiring the company to defend its decision. This option will be expensive, but it may be worth it if you have a solid reason to appeal.

How Auto Insurance Claims Work With American Family

To better grasp what leads to a denied claim, it helps to understand how auto insurance companies pay out claims. After an accident, you must file a claim via the American Family website or app via phone or an agent. You can then provide information about the incident to support your claim.

Read our American Family Insurance auto insurance review to learn more about the company.

A claims adjuster will investigate the damages and discuss the repair estimates with you. Once you agree on the repairs, you’ll pay the deductible, and American Family makes the claim payout. However, your claim may be denied if you and your adjuster disagree.

Read more: How do I file an auto insurance claim with American Family?

Reasons for Unsuccessful Auto Insurance Claims With American Family

American Family will state the reason for its decision in a denial letter. There could be several reasons for the company to deny your claim or offer a lower settlement amount than you requested.

• Scope of policy: The company could deny your claim if it involves damages not covered in your policy. For instance, if your car is damaged due to a flood but only has collision coverage, your claim will be denied.
• Expired policy: If you haven’t paid your premiums, your policy will lapse. The company is likely to deny the claim on expired policies.
• Insufficient evidence: If the American Family claims adjuster is not satisfied with the evidence or the findings from the investigation, they may deny your claim.

Other possible reasons for claim denial include delay in filing the claim, suspicion of fraud or intentional damage to your car, or if you make repairs that you made before getting approval.

What to Do When You Disagree With American Family’s Claim Decision

Getting a claim denied is a frustrating experience, but you have options. As an American Family policyholder, you can appeal the company’s decision on your auto insurance claim. Provide supporting evidence and submit an appeal letter to the company to start the process.

You can also hire an attorney to improve your chances of winning an appeal. If you’re unhappy with your American Family auto insurance policy, you can find auto insurance quotes online for other companies that may work better for you.