St. Petersburg Third-Party Coverage Dispute Lawyer
After a motor vehicle collision in the St. Petersburg area caused by another driver that results in significant damage to your vehicle, or if you sustain injuries on another party’s property due to a defect or negligence, it may be possible to file a third-party insurance claim in order to seek compensation. Policyholders are required to have third-party liability coverage for different kinds of circumstances, including motorists with auto insurance. Contact our experienced St. Petersburg third-party coverage dispute lawyer for more information about how we can assist you with third-party coverage issues in Florida.
Third-Party Versus First-Party Coverage in St. Petersburg
What are the differences between third-party claims and first-party claims in St. Petersburg? These types of claims are filed for different reasons, and one of the major differences is whether the claimant is seeking compensation through their own insurance policy or through another party’s liability insurance coverage.
A first-party claim is an insurance claim filed by a policyholder through their own insurance policy and with their own insurance company. Homeowners’ insurance claims are a common form of first-party claim where the policyholder is seeking compensation for a loss or damage to their house or its contents. With a third-party claim, the claimant is filing through a negligent party’s insurance policy for damage or loss that negligent party caused. The claimant is the third party in this situation who does not have their own agreement with the insurance company but is filing a claim through the liability portion of the policy because the insurer’s policyholder caused harm.
Common Reasons for St. Petersburg Third-Party Coverage Disputes
St. Petersburg third-party coverage disputes can occur in many different circumstances and for distinct reasons. Sometimes an insurer will erroneously identify a claim as being for a type of loss that is not covered in the policy, or a claimant will fail to include required information for the claim to be processed promptly. In other circumstances, the insurer may deny the claim without explanation or might delay processing the claim in order to avoid making a payout. The latter may amount to bad faith, for which a claimant may be able to initiate litigation.
Insurance coverage limits also impact third-party claims and the amount of coverage available. An insurance company will only pay out up to the amount of coverage in the policy. Florida law only requires motorists to carry a minimum of $10,000 liability coverage. If damage to a claimant’s vehicle exceeds $10,000, the claimant cannot obtain any amount in excess of $10,000 by filing a third-party claim. Moreover, if more than one vehicle was damaged, the available coverage may already be used up by the time another third-party claim is submitted, and the latter claimant may not be eligible for anything.
Contact the St. Petersburg Third-Party Coverage Dispute Lawyers at our Office Today
If you recently filed a third-party claim and it has not been paid, it is important to discuss options for resolving a third-party coverage dispute with the firm of Geyer Fuxa Tyler. Contact our experienced Florida third-party coverage dispute lawyer today.