Insurance can be a simple type of purchase for many years; and while you should be sure to update it at least annually, you may have been paying your premiums faithfully for years without giving it much of a though—except to know that it was in force and there should you need it. Something like a car insurance policy may have been filed away or put into a drawer and forgotten about. You may have absolutely no reason to feel negative about your insurance company, much less harbor any ill will. This could change abruptly in the case of a car accident though, for example, where your insurer did not seem to be following through on their promises as outlined in your original policy—or if they seem to be acting out of line, and surprisingly so.

You May Find It Hard to Believe that the Insurance Company is Being Shady

In a ‘normal world,’ dealing with a claim should be cut and dry. But sometimes disorganization and greed take over, unfortunately, and you may find yourself feeling like the claim and settlement process is a bit like dealing with gangsters lurking in dark alleys as they find one way after another to shut you down with intimidation tactics. Bad faith practices are probably more common than any of us would like to think—after all, who wants to imagine that nice insurance agent we bought our policy from leading us into an eventual nightmare with adjusters?

Witnesses Should Be Respected as An Integral Part of the Case

A homeowner’s property damage issue or car accident and resulting claim should not resemble anything close to dealing with gangsters lurking in dark alleys, but if you are being harassed or if witnesses are being treated in a poor manner, you may be shocked, as well as feeling helpless. This is when you need a skilled bad faith insurance attorney on your side, whether there is the possibility of settling the case or moving forward to the courtroom. Bad faith practices may include adjusters or other representatives for the insurance company trying to intimidate you with making embarrassing allegations, accusing you of fraud unjustly, making you feel like you have no case and any settlement should be enough, causing delays, or just denying you outright.

In Bad Faith, the Insurer May Bully Defendants or Witnesses

Witnesses can be an integral part of any case, and they are commonly called on after an automobile accident. And although it may seem farfetched, the insurer may try to bully them—just as they have bullied you too. They may attack their credibility or character in a variety of different ways or use verbally abusive tactics in the hopes that they will back down, just as they hope you will.

Contact Us for Help

If you suspect your insurance company may be denying your claim in bad faith, contact the attorneys at the Bolender Law Firm. If a dispute over a claim cannot be easily resolved through a call or written communication, our attorneys will advocate on behalf of policyholders through litigation, arbitration, or non-binding mediation. Our attorneys are experienced in representing clients in state and federal courts, at both the trial and appellate level. Call us at 310-320-0725 now or submit an easy consultation request online. We are here to help!

If you are involved in a lawsuit—and especially one that is more challenging and adversarial in nature—you may feel like the world is against you. No one wants to have to endure the stress of litigation, which can be long and drawn-out, expensive, and has the potential to offer little satisfaction in the end. Being forced to fight without someone on your side may seem like a completely losing proposition, and although your insurance company may be providing an attorney for legal defense, you may feel like the odd man out. Unfortunately, you probably are not imagining things either as the insurance company must follow through on their promises as outlined, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t keeping a shrewd eye on their money.

Whether you are in court due to a serious automobile lawsuit where you were suspected to be negligent and there were serious injuries or property damage, or perhaps a commercial liability incident where someone hurt themselves on your property, in most cases your established liability insurance kicks in and leaves the insurance company obligated for your defense under ‘duty to defend.’ You can be sure that in most cases too, the insurance company will hope to take the more affordable route after performing an investigation and settle with the other side instead of heading for the considerable time and expense expected in the courtroom. If that is not the case though and you are involved in litigation, and you feel like you are not getting a fair shake as there is a conflict of interest with the attorney the insurer has provided, you may have the right to also have accompanying independent counsel—to be paid for by the insurer.

This may be vital to your future when large sums of money are involved for damages, or perhaps a settlement in the end. With independent counsel, you can be assured that the attorneys provided by your insurer are monitored by another legal expert and you have more control over your case. In most cases, this is your right unless you have waived the privilege previously.

Attorneys from the Bolender Law Firm have acted as independent counsel in many cases, representing policyholders exclusively. We are experienced in representing clients in state and federal courts, at both the trial and appellate level. Call us at 310-320-0725 now or submit an easy consultation request online. We are here to help!