If you have owned one or more insurance policies for a long period of time, you may have been lucky enough never to have to use it or worry about insurance coverage—but on the other hand, you may also wonder if it has been worth it to pay out so many premiums for what could seem like virtually nothing; after all, in many ways insurance is just a concept. After you meet with the insurance agent, discuss options, purchase coverage, and go on your way, you may feel a bit let down to find out all you feel like you received in exchange for your money was a stack of paper that may be difficult to understand.
Of course, the major goal in purchasing insurance is to procure protection in the case of a car wreck, an injury to a third party at your business, a disaster that affects your home—and so much more. Any such incidents could be debilitating to the person filing the claim, but also catastrophic to your finances. There are many reasons that coverage can be triggered, but it all comes down to one thing: the insurance claim.
If you have an occurrence policy, the claim may be that a third party was injured at your business, or their property was damaged. That triggers the coverage as long as the incident for the claim occurred during the time the policy was in force. With a claims-made policy, coverage is triggered if the policy was in force at the time the claim is made, or during an extended reporting period (also known as the tail).
In some cases, there may be a dispute with the insurer over the claim. You may have done everything right, from filling out all of your paperwork clearly and honestly, to paying every premium without fail, and making sure to keep all your policies reviewed and updated on an annual basis. To have a claim not paid promptly after you have held up your end up the bargain faithfully can be extremely disappointing. Seek advice from an experienced bad faith insurance attorney if you are worried about the following, whether it is regarding an injury claim, property claim, or professional liability that could threaten your business or livelihood:
- An offer from the insurance company that is exceedingly low
- Lack of investigation from adjusters
- Delaying in payment for the claim
- Outright denial of the claim
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!