How I Should Respond to a Bad Faith Insurer

Insurance Denial Lawyer

Policyholders who are interested in filing a lawsuit against their insurance company may wonder if they have a strong enough foundation to do so. If you are reading this, you may be deciding whether or not to actually go through with suing your insurer over an unlawful mishandling or denial of your claim. It is not uncommon for policyholders to also consider meeting with an attorney about this issue for a little extra advice along the way. In the article below, we have addressed a series of concerns policyholders may have about what to do next about a bad faith insurer.

What if My Insurer Denied Coverage?

If you filed a claim to your insurer but you were denied coverage, you don’t have to take that denial as a final answer, as an attorney, as an insurance denial lawyer can explain. You can examine your contract to confirm that what you are requesting was in fact included in your agreement. If it was included in your contract, then you can appeal the claim. Many people may not realize that you can take legal action if your insurance company breached your contract.

What are Examples of Deceptive Insurance Company Practices?

Policyholders may be distressed if they are experiencing resistance from their insurer after diligently making payments every month. It may seem as though insurance companies are happy to help you – at least up until you actually have to file a claim regarding an accident, fire, earthquake, or something else. Your insurer may commit the following deceptive practices when responding to your claim:

• Stating they never received the paperwork you completed
• Informing you that your policy had expired or was cancelled prior to the date of the incident
• Only taking into consideration evidence that saves their company money, and not the evidence that supports your claim
• Not responding within a reasonable amount of time to your claim submittal
• Denying your claim but failing to provide an explanation of why the decision was made
• Changing policy coverage without informing or receiving consent from the policyholder
• Straying from standard procedures when handling a policyholder’s claim
• Biased denial of a policyholder’s coverage due to being of a higher value

How Should I Respond?

Policyholders who are at their wits’ end from dealing with their insurance provider may consider hiring a legal professional for insight.

It can be very challenging for those recovering from an unexpected life event to also be in the midst of a claim battle with their insurance company. Unfair behavior on behalf of an insurer may not only be frustrating but also unethical. The majority of policyholders who invest their money in insurance companies reasonably assume they will receive support if the need ever arises. Having to jump through hoops and leave repeated voicemails without much luck is not only poor service but could be a tactic used by your insurer to help escape obligation.

If you have tried all you can and still have not found success with your insurer, it may be time to meet with an attorney. Insurers of bad faith may find any way to unlawfully deny, delay or minimize your claim.