If you have filed a claim recently, you probably expected attention to the issue—and quickly; after all, isn’t this what you have experienced in the past before when you were in a car accident and adjusters wanted to get the matter settled—or if you were at fault? No matter what has happened, insurers are expected to respond to the matter expediently. If you are the receiving end of bad faith practices on the part of an insurance company, you may be shocked at such behavior. Unfortunately, however, it is all too common today that policyholders receive unfair treatment at the hands of companies bringing in billions of dollars while you wait
After fulfilling all the requirements asked of you upon purchasing a policy and working with an insurance agent, you are probably extremely frustrated to find that what you are receiving in reward for paying all your premiums is, the possibility of nothing. If you are in that position, however, seek legal help from a skilled bad faith insurance lawyer from the Bolender Law Firm as soon as possible to get the protection and financial compensation you are owed. Fighting a big insurance company is not something you want to do on your own, and especially if you are just hearing crickets after filing a claim for what could have been a devastating accident or issue at your business.
In California, if you have filed an insurance claim, the company you are with should have contacted you within 15 days, with an outcome communicated to you within 40 days; of course, this is based on the insurer receiving proof of the claim too. If they do communicate to you that they are accepting the claim, you should receive the payment within 15 days.
Otherwise, be aware of the red flags to watch out for regarding bad faith, such as lack of action from the insurance company, but many requests for you to produce documentation. This is a common intimidation tactic, as they hope that they will ask for more information than you have can find or have time to produce. The insurer may also try to intimidate witnesses who are willing to speak up in your defense, as well as trying to convince you that whatever low figure they are offering as a settlement is the only one you will probably get—and you should take it quickly.
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!