What can you do about it?
It’s a moment that surprisingly many people go through. And most of them don’t know whether the insurer is right or whether they should push back.
What are the most common reasons an insurer won’t pay, and when is that justified and when is it not?
1. Unreasonable delay in reporting the damage
Every policy has a deadline for reporting an insured event. Most often within 15 days. If you miss it, the insurer may reduce or refuse the payout. Justified, but avoidable. So always report damage as soon as possible, even if you don’t know the full amount yet.
2. Breach of the policy terms
Were you driving under the influence of alcohol, without a valid roadworthiness inspection, or using the vehicle for a purpose the policy excludes? The insurer will refuse, and it has every right to. Here, the outcome of a dispute is usually clear.
3. Damage caused by negligence or intent
Insurance covers accidental events. If the insurer proves that the damage was caused by your gross negligence or on purpose, it will refuse to pay. But the line between ordinary carelessness and gross negligence is often disputed, and courts interpret it in different ways.
4. An exclusion in the policy terms
This is the most common source of surprises. Exclusions are listed in the policy, but few people read them. If your damage falls under an exclusion, the insurer doesn’t have to pay a single crown. And it’s right.
When the insurer is wrong
If the refusal isn’t based on a specific provision of the policy. If it hasn’t given you a clear written justification. If it interprets an exclusion more broadly than its wording allows. In these cases, it pays to turn to the Czech Trade Inspection Authority, the Financial Arbiter or straight to a lawyer.
Your insurer isn’t your enemy. But an insurance policy is a legal document, every word in it carries weight, and ignorance is no excuse.
