What happens if I disagree with Liberty Mutual’s decision on my auto insurance claim?

Liberty Mutual Insurance is the sixth-largest global property and casualty insurer. More than a century old, the company has both personal and commercial insurance lines and a presence in 29 countries.

Your Liberty Mutual auto insurance is meant to financially protect you in case of unforeseen events such as car crashes or hurricanes. But things don’t always go smoothly, and you may end up with a denied claim or lower-than-expected settlement amount.

Your auto insurance company can settle your claim without your consent. But you may disagree with the decision. This article explains what happens if you disagree with Liberty Mutual’s decision on your auto insurance claim and how claims work with the company. (For more information, read our “What documentation do I need to file an auto insurance claim with Liberty Mutual?“).

When You Disagree With Liberty Mutual’s Decision on Your Claim

While a claim denial or low settlement amount can be a shock, you can file an appeal if you believe that the decision was unfair. The most effective appeal is one that demonstrates why the denial was unlawful or contrary to the insurance policy terms.

First, it’s critical to understand the reasons for the claim denial. Some denials are legitimate — for instance if your policy has expired or the amount you claimed is higher than your policy limits. The reason is usually stated in the letter of denial.

Once you understand the claim and feel you have a case, assess what type of additional information you need to appeal. First, you must gather evidence about the incident and the damages, such as photos, eyewitness accounts, medical bills, or police reports.

With sufficient evidence, write a letter of appeal to Liberty Mutual Insurance with the collated material. You can consider hiring an attorney if your claim involves a substantial amount.

An attorney can help review the claim decision, draft an appeal letter, gather evidence, and send a demand letter to the company. This could improve your chances of winning an appeal.

Learn more about how to contact Liberty Mutual by visiting our Liberty Mutual auto insurance review.

You may consider switching auto insurance companies with an open claim, but you cannot file the claim with the new insurance company.

How Claims Work at Liberty Mutual Insurance

To better understand the reasons for denial, it may help to outline the claims process. You can learn how to file an auto insurance claim at the Liberty Mutual website with the incident’s date, time, location, and an overview.

A company representative will review the damage with the help of photos or an in-person inspection. Some claims may require a more substantial investigation.

Once the representative arrives at an estimate for your repairs, you can agree to the terms offered. The company then pays you the settlement amount minus the deductible. Note that the claim can be denied or the settlement amount could be too low to cover the damages.

Next Steps When You Disagree With Liberty Mutual’s Claim Decision

An adverse decision on your auto insurance claim may not be what you were expecting, but you can appeal Liberty Mutual Insurance’s decision. Send a letter of appeal detailing the incident, along with proof to support your claim.

You can consider hiring an attorney, but legal representation is expensive and does not guarantee that the original decision will be overturned.