After receiving a reservation of rights letter from the homeowner’s insurance company, you may fear you’ve lost coverage. It sounds like the insurance company is threatening to deny or limit coverage for your claim. This can be a confusing and alarming experience for many homeowners who may not fully understand what a reservation of rights letter is for.
Insurance Claim HQ’s homeowners insurance claim attorneys can help homeowners like you protect a claim if the insurer is trying to protect itself from paying you what you’re owed. Contact us to get started.
A reservation of rights letter from an insurance company serves to notify a policyholder that while the company is investigating the claim, it reserves the right to deny coverage or limit its obligation to pay for the damages or losses.
In other words, the insurance company is not admitting liability or committing to cover the claim. Instead, it is informing the policyholder that there are circumstances that could potentially exclude them from coverage.
An insurance company may send a policyholder a reservation of rights letter for the following reasons:
The first step to initiating the process should be to carefully read the letter, then contact an insurance claims attorney for advice.
Homeowners should also:
Non-waiver agreements and reservation of rights letters differ in their nature, as the former is a mutual agreement between the insurer and the policyholder. By accepting a non-waiver agreement, the policyholder is essentially giving consent to the terms of the insurance company’s commitment to defend.
However, the decision to enter into a non-waiver agreement lies entirely with the policyholder, and the insurance company cannot coerce the policyholder into signing such an agreement as a precondition for providing a defense.
An outright denial of a claim means that the insurance company has determined that the claim is not covered by the policy and will not provide coverage or payment for the damages or losses. In contrast, a reservation of rights letter means that the insurance company is still investigating the claim and has not made a final determination about coverage.
While a reservation of rights is not an outright denial, it does indicate that there are potential issues or exclusions that could affect coverage.
As representatives for homeowners during initial insurance claims and appeals, Insurance Claim HQ is here to answer any questions you have. Our insurance claim services can help policyholders navigate the process and respond to a reservation of rights letter with confidence. We can advise you as to which steps you should take to protect your interests and ensure your claim is properly handled.
If you have received a reservation of rights letter, contact us to request the guidance of an insurance claims attorney. For more information on insurance claims or to schedule your consultation, use our online form or call us today.
No, a reservation of rights letter means that the insurance company is still investigating the claim and has not made a final determination about coverage. It indicates that the insurance company claims there are potential issues or exclusions that could affect coverage.
It is not necessary to sign a reservation of rights letter because it is not a contract or agreement. However, you should respond to the letter after contacting an attorney to avoid a potential waiver of rights.
Yes, you can try to negotiate with your insurance company to reach a mutual agreement However, it is important to have an experienced insurance claims attorney on your side to protect your rights and interests during this negotiation process.
