Insurance Disputes
Just about everyone holds some form of insurance. However few people understand much about their rights under their insurance policies, documents which often seem to be designed to bewilder the layman.
In fact, a consumer often does not become aware of a problem with an insurance policy until their insurer rejects a claim. By this time, some disastrous event has often occurred. Even a full insurance payout may not provide complete compensation: refusal of the claim, or a reduction in payout, may leave the consumer in a devastating financial position.
There are a multitude of potential grounds for an insurance dispute. An insurer may claim that the incident causing the assureds' loss is not covered by the insurance or that an incident covered by the insurance was not the actual cause of the loss. The insurer may also claim that the assured did not provide appropriate information when establishing the insurance.
Alternatively the insurer may attempt to avoid liability on the basis of that the assured hasn't complied with the insurer's claims procedures. Or the insurer may allege that the claim is fraudulent.
If your insurance company is trying to take advantage of the complexities of insurance law to avoid paying you, you need to get expert advice to protect your interests.
While many of the rules developed by the courts in interpreting insurance contracts strongly benefit insurance companies, they don't have it all their own way. The Commonwealth Insurance Contracts Act which goes some way to redressing the imbalance and provides a degree of consumer protection to assured parties.
Quinn & Scattini's insurance lawyers understand insurance law inside and out. We know the loopholes that insurance companies can use and we understand all the protections to which you are entitled.
We are used to negotiating with insurance companies to get them to see the customer's side of the story. However it is not always possible to achieve an agreed settlement. In this case it may be appropriate to explore the potential for using some form of alternative dispute resolution process. Otherwise our lawyers are well qualified to pursue your rights in court.
If you are involved in a dispute with your insurance company, or if you need advice about your insurance coverage or any insurance law issue, contact us now.
If you would like to find out how Quinn & Scattini can help you, please call us on 1800 999 529, or email us at mail@quinnscattini.com.au
