What is a Sworn Statement in Proof of Loss and Why is it Requested?
Filing an insurance claim after a personal injury incident requires you to submit accurate contact information that includes the name, address, and phone number of your personal injury attorney, if you decide to retain one. You also must include convincing physical evidence, such as a copy of the official police report and photographs of the accident scene. Witness statements boost the credibility of the physical evidence submitted with your insurance claim. Your insurance company also might require you to submit a sworn statement in proof of loss.
What is a sworn statement in proof of loss and why is my insurer requesting one?
Although the document called a sworn statement in proof of loss sounds intimidating, it is nothing more than a second document that describes the details of your personal injury incident, as well as contains the physical evidence that demonstrates you sustained financial losses. If your insurance policy includes a clause that requires you to submit a sworn statement in proof of loss, failing to submit the document can result in the denial of your insurance claim.
Before you interact with your insurance company after a personal injury incident, you should speak with an experienced personal injury attorney who helps you navigate the insurance claim process. Your lawyer helps you complete an accurate claim, as well as gather and organize the physical evidence you need to persuade an insurance adjuster to approve your claim for the full value requested. Another legal service offered by an accomplished personal injury attorney involves advising you on how to complete an accurate sworn statement in proof of loss.
Schedule a free case evaluation today with one of the state-licensed personal injury attorneys at Morgan and Morgan.
More answers to commonly asked questions
What Is a Sworn Statement in Proof of Loss?
A sworn statement in proof of loss represents a formal document that many insurance companies require before processing a claim. The formal document attempts to prevent insurance fraud by verifying the value of every insured cost listed within an insurance claim. Most insurance companies that request a sworn statement in proof of loss require a notarized signature to validate the formal document.
You must include the coverage amount of your policy at the time of the personal injury incident, as well as the date and time when the personal injury incident took place. After you describe the location and the conditions at the time of the personal injury incident, you start listing the expenses that are associated with your injuries and any property damage. You must submit a copy of every medical bill, including the costs of diagnostic tests, treatment programs, and physical therapy sessions. Receipts that confirm repairs done to property damage also provide the insurance adjuster reviewing your claim with tangible evidence of financial losses.
Finally, make sure to include the number of your insurance policy for the insurance adjuster to refer to during the review process.
How Do I Complete a Sworn Statement in Proof of Loss?
If your insurance company requires the submission of a sworn statement in proof of loss, the insurer should send the document with the insurance claim form. Otherwise, you might have to request the document through email or by calling the company’s main office.
As with the insurance claim, you cannot afford to make a mistake when completing the sworn statement in proof of loss. This means all the required information, including policy number, insurance agent’s name, and contact information, must be accurate. You must describe the cause of your financial losses, such as a car accident, defective product, or slip and fall. Complete the time or origin section of the document before listing every expense associated with your insurance claim. Every expense you claim for compensation must come with a copy of a bill or a receipt of payment.
Get the formal document notarized, and then sign and date the document before submitting it to your insurance company.
Why Should I Hire an Attorney?
Hiring an experienced personal injury attorney ensures you submit an accurate sworn statement in proof of loss before the deadline, which typically is 60 days after requesting the formal document. Before you submit the formal document, your legal counsel reviews every claimed expense to make sure you have provided evidence that you paid out-of-pocket for medical bills and repairs to property damage. Your lawyer helps you get the formal document properly notarized, as well as ensures you include every supporting document that proves which party should assume legal liability for causing the personal injury incident.
Working with one of the personal injury attorneys at Morgan and Morgan provides you with answers to all of your questions. You receive help determining a fair value for your claim, which includes both economic and non-economic damages. Your attorney provides guidance on whether to accept a settlement offer after negotiating with the other party’s lawyer. If your insurance company refuses to settle your claim by offering a fair value of compensation, your personal injury attorney might take the steps required to file a civil lawsuit that seeks monetary damages.
Submit an accurate and convincing sworn statement in proof of loss by scheduling a free case evaluation with one of the highly-rated personal injury attorneys at Morgan and Morgan.