Had a similar situation last year—client's claim got flat-out denied at first. We pushed back with dashcam footage and a clear breakdown of events. Insurer changed their tune pretty fast after that. Documentation's your best friend in these cases...
Totally agree, dashcams are lifesavers. I'd also suggest keeping a detailed log of all conversations with the insurer—dates, names, what was discussed. Helped me big-time when they tried to backtrack on their promises later...
Dashcams are great, but honestly, they're a bit pricey for me right now. Instead, I've been using a voice recorder app on my phone whenever I talk to insurance reps. It's free and helps me remember exactly what was said. Saved me once when they tried to deny a claim based on something they claimed I'd agreed to (I hadn't). Also, keeping emails or texts is super helpful—anything in writing beats verbal promises every time.
Another thing I learned the hard way: always ask for confirmation emails after important calls. Sometimes they'll say they'll send one and conveniently "forget," so don't hesitate to follow up and remind them. It can feel awkward, but it's worth it in the long run.
Insurance companies count on people not having proof or getting tired of fighting back. If you show you're organized and have your facts straight, they're more likely to take you seriously. Good luck dealing with them...it's never fun.
"Instead, I've been using a voice recorder app on my phone whenever I talk to insurance reps."
Careful with voice recordings—depending on your state, you might need consent from the other party before recording calls. It's usually safer to stick with emails or texts, since they're less likely to cause legal headaches down the line. Learned this myself after a client ran into trouble trying to use recorded conversations. Just double-check local laws first to be safe...
Just double-check local laws first to be safe...
Good point about checking local laws first. Honestly, though, emails and texts are usually your best friends here—clear paper trail, no legal gray areas. Plus, no awkward "uhhh... mind if I record this?" moments mid-call, lol.
