While some insurance and receiving claims payment can be extremely straightforward, purchasing other policies can be tricky; for instance, if you are buying a used car and just want liability insurance with standard limits, you may just be able to call an insurer and set everything up over the phone in less than 30 minutes. All your paperwork arrives over email shortly after or you may receive a hard copy in the mail later, ready to be tucked away in a drawer or file cabinet. Other policies require a lot of shopping, thought, and discussion with your agent, such as health insurance, homeowner’s insurance, commercial insurance, and more. The more assets you must protect—the more complex the policy will probably be.
No matter what type of insurance you buy though, and no matter how complicated it may be to get, one thing is certain: if you pay your premiums on time, you expect the insurer to pay out as promised if there is a problem. When that doesn’t happen, many policyholders become extremely frustrated—and understandably so. And if there are red flags such as lack of investigation, major delays, low-ball offers, and more, you may be ready to consult with a bad faith insurance attorney from a law office like the Bolender Law Firm. And although the insurer may be at fault for not handling your claim properly, there could be other explanations.
Here are five valid reasons they may delay:
- Unfortunately, there could be a problem from your end such as late payments or unpaid premiums which caused the policy to cancel or caused complication. This could lead to a denial, ultimately.
- They are waiting for evidence or more information in an investigation. They may also need to interview you and go over details regarding a claim.
- The company may not be dishonest, but just disorganized. While they may not have any plans to act in bad faith, their office may not be as fast as expected in terms of gathering all the facts.
- They may be struggling to pay out one claim after another as quickly as expected if there has been damage due to a natural disaster. This could go either way in terms of a claim just being paid out more slowly than you would like or turning into a bad faith lawsuit with the help of a skilled attorney.
- They may be taking time to eliminate fraud as a cause in the case. While most likely you have nothing to worry about, some claims may take longer to assess—like a fire—and if there is any doubt, adjusters may have a lengthier investigation.
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!