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

Nationwide is one of the United States’ best affordable auto insurance companies. According to J.D. Power’s 2022 claims satisfaction survey, Nationwide is decent at paying out claims, scoring 868 out of 1,000. That being said there are situations in which Nationwide may not settle your claim to your satisfaction.

Read our Nationwide auto insurance review for more information about what happens if you disagree with Nationwide’s decision on your auto insurance claim.? Read on to learn more about what happens if you disagree with the insurance company’s decision on your claim.

First Steps to Appealing Nationwide’s Decision on Your Auto Insurance Claim

Read the claim denial or settlement offer letter carefully. Understanding the reasoning behind Nationwide’s decision to offer you a lower settlement than expected (or to deny your claim outright) is important.

If you are convinced that the company has made the wrong decision, you can start writing your appeal letter. You will need to gather evidence to support your argument, including:

• The date and time of the incident and any other important dates
• Copies of important documentation — eyewitness statements, police reports, and medical records
• Photos of property damage and injuries
• Invoices from medical providers and auto repair shops

Claims are often denied simply because of missing information, so the more information you include in your appeal, the better.

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The Top 4 Reasons Nationwide Might Deny Your Auto Insurance Claim or Pay Less

Nationwide may deny your claim for a variety of reasons. However, the most common reasons for a claim denial or a lower settlement than expected are as follows:

• The claim exceeds your policy coverage limits: Every policy has a limit on how much it will pay out if you are in an accident. This is called your coverage limit. If your claim is greater than your limit, you will need to pay the excess.
• The driver is not named on your insurance policy: If the driver is not named on your policy, Nationwide is within its rights to deny coverage. Ensuring you know how to cover all family members under the same auto insurance policy is a good idea if you all share a car.
• You missed a payment: Remember to keep updated with your insurance premiums.
• You are at fault: If you are at fault, your insurer will pay for any damages to the other vehicle and driver. If you don’t have comprehensive or collision coverage, the company will not pay for damages to your vehicle. Nationwide will determine fault using police and witness reports, damage reports, and photos. This is why you need to file a police report after an accident. 

What happens if fault can’t be determined after a car accident? In that case, the insurance companies involved will try to determine who is at fault or split fault between the drivers 50-50.

Read more: What information do I need to file an auto insurance claim with Nationwide?

If, after reading the above, you still feel that Nationwide has made the wrong call on your claim, you might be in a good position to appeal the decision.

Appealing Nationwide’s Auto Insurance Claim Decision Can Change the Outcome

If you did not receive the settlement payout you were hoping for or if your claim was denied, and you feel certain that your claim was valid, don’t give up. Appealing the decision could change the outcome.

It might be that Nationwide did not have all the necessary information, or it could be something else. Review the details of your claim carefully as you consider your appeal.