Category: Insurance lawyers

Your Insurance Lawyer Should Be Skilled in the Courtroom

Posted by rainmakereditor on September 19, 2019 with 0 Comment

Even without an insurance lawyer explaining it to you, chances are you understand how the basics of an insurance claim work, and are hoping to stay out of the courtroom. If you have been in a car accident, the police are called, a report is made, and you may have been taken to the hospital for injuries or were treated otherwise. Many of these types of incidents end up leaving you with a sigh of relief as they are fender benders resulting in little need for action, while another could be a full-blown car crash that results in multiple injuries due to the negligence of another party, and could escalate into a full-blown lawsuit against the other party’s insurance company.

If you have been injured or experienced serious property damage, you probably feel a sense of urgency to see the claim settled so you can get your finances and your life back in order—and understandably so. This can also be a very difficult time if you are trying to heal or adapt to what could be long-lasting or permanent damage physically – not to mention emotionally.

The best scenario in such a situation is always to hope that the insurance company is going to pay the claim as quickly as possible and everyone can go on their way; however, claim situations can get complicated at times. There is a difference though between complicated and an insurance company that is attempting to get out of paying your claim and practicing bad faith. Know the signs. Are they delaying the process of dealing with your claim? Has an investigation begun? Or, have you already been outright denied?

You may also be the victim of intimidation tactics from your insurance company. This could include requests for so much documentation you don’t even know where to start – along with asking for information that may seem completely irrelevant. The insurer could even go so far as to insinuate that your claim is fraudulent, delaying payment even further as they send out a fraud investigation team. They may try to intimidate witnesses with aggressive questioning—and you as well. In the end, you may receive a lowball offer that they want you to believe is all you will get, and that you should accept it quickly (which you should not!).

If you are being treated this way, do not try to go it alone! Consult with an attorney from the Bolender Law Firm as soon as possible if you suspect bad faith practices. There is the chance that your insurance attorney could contact the insurance company by phone or by written communication and resolve everything quickly for you. If not, however, it is vital to your case to have an attorney who is skilled in the courtroom, has experience in the courtroom, and will fight to protect you and your best interests.

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. The Bolender Law Firm is here to help you!

Why Insurance Companies Are So Reluctant to Pay that Claim

Posted by rainmakereditor on September 12, 2019 with 0 Comment

Buying insurance from a company you consider to be reputable is important, especially if you hope to have any claims in the future paid out expediently. And if you have filed a claim with your insurance company recently, chances are you are hoping to hear from them quickly as you must pay medical bills, take care of property that needs to be repaired, or resolve a serious situation where you are being sued or held negligent.

Nothing can be worse than finding out that the insurer you have paid thousands of dollars in premiums to is trying to give you the runaround. And although you may be gravely disappointed, try not to take it personally; after all, if they are being unreasonable with you, most likely that is just how they do business. That may be of little consolation, however, if you have been out of work due to a car or motorcycle crash that resulted in serious injuries and escalation of financial distress after you could not go back to work, or if your home suffered a fire and you have not been able to live there in the interim, or other devastating issues. In most cases where an insurance claim is filed, the policyholder’s finances are affected deeply. You may be extremely worried about your financial future if the insurance company does not come through as you would have expected.

If you suspect bad faith on the part of the insurer when you have filed what you are certain is a valid claim, most likely the insurer is reluctant to pay for one reason: they want to keep their money. And although in many cases, it is obvious they are not doing the right thing, profits, the bottom line, and greed take over. Many red flags may pop up to alert you that something is wrong, beginning with delays that seem to have no explanation. There may be other tactics, however, like investigations that never seem to get underway, or excessive requests for documentation—or even intimidation tactics such as suggesting you should take a lowball offer or you won’t receive anything at all.

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!

Understanding Your Options When a Denial Needs to Be Challenged

Posted by rainmakereditor on September 3, 2019 with 0 Comment

No matter what type of insurance claim you may have filed, chances are you are hoping to have it settled quickly, and fairly, without any worrying about a denial. And while many cases are open and shut, black and white, and present no trouble at all, all too often, trying to get your settlement paid can be a massive headache. Consumers in the US should not have to live in fear of large corporations like insurance companies when something has gone wrong and their finances are deeply at risk, but sadly, insurers do hold much of the power due to their massive financial resources, with billions of profits pouring into their businesses each year.

For many policyholders, anxiety and panic set in quickly as bills start piling up due to an issue like a car accident due to the negligence of others that may have resulted in serious injuries; or, if you have experienced a huge homeowners claim, you may have nowhere to live during the interim. Insurance companies are aware of their power, however, and they use it to their advantage. And while they do not have your best interest in mind, a skilled bad faith insurance attorney from the Bolender Law Firm will.

You may have been worried from the beginning, after filing a claim and then not getting much response. Most adjusters are very quick to begin calling and asking questions (all of which should be referred to your attorney) so it can be discouraging when a claim is not being followed up on, and there does not seem to be any initial investigation. While delays are concerning, if you have received an outright denial that seems completely unreasonable, you may want to take legal action, but it is critical to understand your options first.

Having all the evidence in hand will be very important to your case, so save all documents and communications with the insurer to pass on to your attorney. Often, the best option is to start by having your insurance lawyer call the insurance company. You may be amazed at how quickly matters are resolved; however, if that does not work, letters may need to be written, reviews may need to be requested—and all the while you may be dealing with repair bills, medical bills, and you could even be healing from an accident while waiting. Do not attempt to go it alone against the insurer, especially if the only recourse is serious legal action requiring you to take the insurer to court for bad faith processes and an unfair denial.

If you need help reviewing your insurance policy, or 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!

Before Buying that Insurance Policy: Know What to Ask Your Agent

Posted by jbolender on August 27, 2019 with 0 Comment

Although you may be excited about making a large purchase such as a car or a home, the dream and the concept of doing so could be much more exciting than the actual process as there are many details to take care of, whether you are buying a piece of property, opening a business, or taking on a new profession. Most of these endeavors require risk protection, in the form of insurance. As a consumer, you may require multiple lines of insurance, but no matter what, you will need to work with an experienced, ethical insurance agent.

While you may have found a suitable agent online or even nailed down all the details without leaving your desk and computer or phone, it is also common to meet an insurance agent through networking with friends and family. Many insurance agents work for the same companies throughout long and profitable careers and have knowledge of the insurance industry and products that can be extremely valuable to you. If you are getting ready to buy one or more insurance policies, know what to ask your prospective agent:

Ask what types of coverage they think you need. While you may be aware that you need insurance for your car, home, or business, there are many different facets of insurance, and items that need to be covered. Your insurance agent may shed light on many details you are not aware of.
Ask if the agent can help you find the best rates. If a prospective insurance agent does not work for a competitive company, you may find yourself throwing money into an unnecessarily unexpected policy.
Understand what the ramifications are of carrying minimum limits. While you may want the cheapest policy, that could get you into trouble later if you must file a claim.
Inquire about the claims process. What type of reputation does the company have? Would there ever be a reason to worry about bad faith? Try to avoid problems from the beginning.
Are there exclusions or added types of coverage that you should purchase? For instance, will you be covered if there is a bad storm or an earthquake?
What happens if you are sued by another party? Your insurance policy should cover you in terms of liability, but it is critical to understand how far those limits will extend.

Insurers: The Differences Between Good & Bad Faith

Posted by jbolender on August 23, 2019 with 0 Comment

When you buy an insurance policy, it is more than implied that the insurers will act in good faith if you must file a claim – it is expected! Consumers today spend a substantial amount of their income on protecting their property and livelihoods, often purchasing multiple lines of insurance. You may have a simple portfolio and only require car insurance for one or two cars, or you could be a business owner ensuring a fleet of vehicles, several different facilities for your business, along with multiple different types of liability insurance. No matter how you slice it, for most of us, insurance is not cheap, and we would all rather be putting that money somewhere else.

If an unexpected event such as a car accident or damage to your home, perhaps after a fire or a storm, has occurred, your first thought is probably to be glad you have insurance, and begin wondering what will be involved in filing a claim. Once you have done so, you probably expect to hear from the insurance company quickly, and for your claim to be processed efficiently, with a settlement received so that you can recoup your loss.

An insurance company acting in good faith will contact you quickly, and open an investigation so they can determine what type of settlement is in order. If red flags erupt, you may begin to worry about bad faith, especially if they are slow to handle the claim, delay without obvious reasons, deny you, or try to intimidate you into taking a lowball offer. Duplicitous insurance companies have countless ways to try and discredit a claim (or even you), making accusations about fraud or tearing down witnesses who could have been on the scene when damage or an accident occurred.

A bad faith insurer may delay your case by asking for excessive amounts of documentation – even to include tax returns. They may even go so far as to request interviews that are tape-recorded or ask you to participate in an examination under oath, which can be an extremely stressful process. As soon as you suspect bad faith, consult with a skilled insurance attorney from an office like the Bolender Law Firm.

Understanding the Examination Under Oath (EUO)

Posted by jbolender on August 20, 2019 with 0 Comment

For most of your adult life, buying insurance has probably been pretty cut and dry, black and white, consisting of the insurer helping you protect your property—and you writing checks in exchange for such services, never expecting to be subjected to something like an examination under oath. This is often the case with car insurance, and even homeowner’s insurance, if you have been lucky enough never to have damage or to have to file a claim. And while no one enjoys making endless payments to protect a risk that in the end never had a claim filed on it, the bottom line is that you never know what could happen. If the worst does occur, it means everything to know that you are dealing with an insurer who will handle a claim expediently and honestly. It also means everything to know you will not lose your property or business or medical care.

If you are concerned that you are running into trouble with an insurer though, it is time to get out the insurance policy and read it from beginning to end, if you have not done so previously— along with making an appointment to meet with a skilled insurance attorney from an office like the Bolender Law Firm.

There can be much more to an insurance policy than you may realize, which is why it is critical to read every word, although realistically that may be a long and boring endeavor. You are protecting yourself in understanding everything the insurance company could ask of you in the event of a claim, along with what provisions they have in place to protect themselves.

If you have been handling a claim on your own, you may be surprised to find that the insurance company has asked you to participate in an examination under oath (EUO). This could seem very intimidating, and the insurance company may be putting you through aggressive motions so that they can get out of paying a claim; however, most insurance policies do outline the possibility of such measures, also making it clear that your claim could be denied if you do not agree.

Unfortunately, the EUO usually emerges as part of the claim process when the insurance company is investing fraud. During the EUO, which can be a formal proceeding, there is usually someone responsible for transcription, recording the process, and all your answers to what intricate legal questions. At this point you need strong legal expertise to guide you, and especially if a large insurance claim is at stake.

Am I Going to Have to Fight the Insurance Company to Get My Claim Paid?

Posted by jbolender on August 16, 2019 with 0 Comment

The last thing you probably want to deal with is buying insurance or having to deal with a claim either. It is a necessary evil, as most of us are aware though, whether we are dealing with the purchase of a car, a new home, a commercial site, a boat, or other assets. If you own something valuable, insurance gives you the peace of mind in knowing that it is protected in the event of an accident, whether that may be moderate or catastrophic.

No one wants to feel like they are making a deal with the devil in purchasing insurance. This should be an above-board, honest transaction where you choose what lines of insurance you need in working with an insurance agent, purchasing your policy, with an understanding of when premiums are due and how much they cost. If changes are to be made, you should be given notice well ahead of time—not left hanging later after a disaster has occurred and you find there are problems with coverage.

If the time comes to file a claim, you may be under an unfortunate but understandable amount of stress. Your home may have been so damaged that you are forced to live in one small area or move out altogether. You may be without a car. You may be concerned about an incident that occurred at your business, or a potential lawsuit. At this point, the insurance company should be taking care of you. After all the premiums you have probably paid, it is now their job to set your mind at ease, pay your claim quickly, and allow you to get back to your normal way of life. If that does not happen, it is time to hire a skilled bad faith insurance attorney from an office like the Bolender Law Firm.

You may sense trouble from the onset if there is little response to your claim. While adjusters often are quick to begin calling and opening investigations, if that is not happening, chances are you should be worried—and any delays should be well-documented with clear reasoning for any substantial wait. The insurer should be offering you excellent customer service, rather than tasking you for excessive amounts of documentation, insulting you with lowball offers, harassing any witnesses who may have been on the scene at the time your property was damaged or you were injured, and ultimately, seeing to it that you are taken care of expediently.

I Submitted a Claim and The Insurer Is Ignoring Me

Posted by jbolender on August 9, 2019 with 0 Comment

Insurance is all about risk protection. And although we would like the process to proceed as seamlessly as possible, unfortunately, there can be stress involved from the beginning. Just finding a reputable insurance agent can take some amount of effort, unless you can network through friends and family who have worked with someone for years and had good results. In working with an insurance agent, you should learn about all the different types of insurance and policy coverages, along with understanding what you need and how much it will cost.

Once you have a policy in place, there is the added and ongoing responsibility to make substantial payments to the insurer, whether on a monthly, quarterly, or annual basis, and these are not always easy to keep up with – which is why you expect to get what you pay for in the end. Unfortunately, insurers may not always want to let go of their money, and it can be extremely frustrating to find out that they are not going to follow through on their end of a bargain after you have been so diligent.

Every insurance claim should begin with an investigation. This usually involves the adjuster calling and asking basic questions about what happened and setting an appointment to look at damage if there is any, or possibly to interview you (this could occur over the phone or in person). If you have a substantial case against another party and the insurer, it is in your best interest to have an attorney handling all communication and transferring of pertinent files.

But what about the insurance company or adjuster who seems to make an initial call and then drops the ball completely after that? You may find this to be unexpected and confusing behavior. An insurance company will usually only avoid an investigation altogether if they have made a mistake and forgotten about you due to disorganization within their company—or they are trying to avoid paying the claim altogether. No matter what the case is, if you are getting nowhere with an insurance claim that probably needs to be paid expediently, it is in your best interest to have skilled legal representation to fight for your rights.

Sketchy Behavior? Delays? Denials? Get It All in Writing!

Posted by jbolender on July 29, 2019 with 0 Comment

No matter what type of insurance claim you have submitted, there are bound to be many details that must be attended to—and some could be complex, whether you have filed a car accident claim, homeowners claim, or one pertaining to your profession or liability at a commercial site–but delays can be very frustrating.

Being forced to communicate with or wait on another individual’s insurer if you have had to file a car accident claim can be extremely frustrating, especially if you have been seriously injured and are worried about finances due to mounting medical bills and inability to work. The situation may be even worse, however, when your own insurance company gives you a hard time – adding insult to injury after you have been paying your premiums for what could have been many years as a devoted customer; in fact there may never have been any problem of any sort until you actually had a demand. It can feel like a real slap in the face to have maintained your standing in a contract with the insurer for so long, but when you actually need to cash in on the insurance that has been protecting you for so long, the company you trusted may not be there for you.

If you have begun to worry about bad faith practices, you may have experienced strange or disorganized behavior from customer service representatives or the adjuster, or even your insurance agent. You may have experienced long delays, a complete lack of investigation about your claim, or outright denials for no good reason. At this point, everything should be requested in writing as you may have to sue the insurer to get your claim paid. If there is a delay, ask for a reason in writing. If there is a denial, you certainly want that in writing and should have received a comprehensive notice regarding the reason. If there has not been an investigation at all, try emailing the company and seeing if you get something back in writing – but better yet, have your attorney handle as much of this is possible.

If you are forced to take an insurer to court for bad faith practices, you may be owed an exponential amount of damages after enduring such an experience.

Insurance Companies Rely on Insurance Premiums to Make Profits

Posted by jbolender on July 18, 2019 with 0 Comment

If you filed an insurance claim recently and found the insurer lacking in their timely response, you may be outraged—not to mention disappointed, frustrated, worried, and a whole lot of other not so positive reactions to their behavior; After all, insurance premiums usually do not run cheap, and you may have had to work hard to make your payments in a continual and timely manner.

It could be devastating to invest so much money and trust in a large company and receive nothing in return at the time you need it the most. Homeowner’s insurance is a good example here. If you have paid in your money for homeowners insurance and had to file a claim, it may be imperative that you are paid as quickly as possible because your living arrangements may have become extremely uncomfortable or you may have even had to move out of your home. In the case of a fire, your home could have been rendered completely uninhabitable, or a portion of it may be burned—still making it exceedingly difficult to live in such a situation. If the insurance company does not seem to be paying any attention to your claim, you may be panicking. They may have even issued a denial outright. If ongoing delays or sudden denials are occurring, you should be receiving reasonable explanations.

If you are not getting anywhere with the insurer despite the urgent need to have a claim paid, most likely the issue is unrelated to their financial health. The insurance industry reports billions of dollars in profits every year, and most large companies are in healthy shape, living quite large off from policyholder premiums. That is how they make their money, and giving it away easily is certainly not a habit or their business model. In fact, insurers may make it as hard as possible for you to have your claim paid. And in the case of a claim like a fire at your home, you may even find yourself at the mercy of a fraud investigation unit—causing the panic to set it exponentially.

And while you may have had nothing to do with a fire at your home (it could have burned while you were not even there and had an ‘alibi’) such an investigation may be quite routine for the insurer. If you are concerned that the insurance company is going to try any method possible to get out of paying your claim, it is time to consult with a bad faith insurance attorney.