As the holidays come and go, most of us have been busy saving up for a variety of purchases—and then recovering from not only multiple food comas, but also financial hangovers! Along with that comes all the usual expenses, including insurance—one of those bills that tends to remain front and center in our lives. While it is not always required, a variety of different policies are recommended, from auto to life to commercial, and more. And not only is insurance a monthly to quarterly to annually bill, it is often a lifelong bill. That means thousands of dollars paid to an insurer, so make sure it is going to a worth cause in the end, if needed, and that would be you!

You may be paying for one or more insurance policies, but do you really know the details? Insurance can be tricky, from choosing the best insurance agent to understanding a variety of different policyholder issues. Most important though is understanding what you are covered for, and whether you are lacking in protection; after all, a catastrophic loss could affect your finances enormously if you do not have enough insurance. The hope is that you will never need to file a claim, but if you do, it is vital to know what financial resources will be available to you through your insurance policy.

The auto policy is always a good example, as most of us own one but still may not quite understand it fully, along with what could cause the insurer to deny your claim—and solidly so. California requires you to carry liability insurance only, but many other options are available such as comprehensive and collision, which may also be required before you can drive a new or used car off the dealer lot. You should understand what you are or what you want to be covered for in terms of medical payments, personal injury protection, uninsured motorists, and more.

More importantly though—and this goes for all your insurance—understand what you can do to make sure you don’t make it easier for the insurer to deny or delay your claim. Again, using car insurance as an example, understand what your policy covers and might be denied due to your actions or negligence—or simple lack of payment and cancellation of policy that could have already occurred.

If you have been injured, get medical treatment immediately. Any delays in going to the hospital or doctor’s office may raise serious questions. Make sure all your concerns are documented, and keep in mind that your medical records may be requested. Be aware that if the accident was your fault due to an issue such as reckless driving or driving under the influence, the claim could be denied. Distracted driving is also one of the top reasons for traffic fatalities and injuries, and it is proved that you were not paying attention to driving but fiddling with an electronic device instead, again there is the possibility for denial.

For other insurance policies, know what is expected of you when there is damage or other reason for a claim. If the insurer is not responding, know the signs of impending bad faith practices such as lack of investigation, unreasonable delays, low-ball offers, or a denial that seems unreasonable.

Are you concerned about a recent claim, or are you trying to understand your insurance policy? If a dispute over a claim cannot be easily resolved through a call or written communication, the Bolender Law Firm 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!

When you purchased your insurance initially—whether it was for your home, car, business, or health/life/disability needs—the process was most likely very thorough, and especially when it came to your background and credentials. Insurance companies are usually known for being extremely organized as well as quite adept at producing policies full of legalese that many of us have a hard time deciphering. There was probably little gray area regarding when you were expected to pay premiums, how much exactly, and what would happen if you were late or failed to make a payment.

On the flip side, you may be experiencing frustration after filing a claim, especially if there seem to be unreasonable delays. Suddenly, all the understanding, organizational skills, and communication may have gone out the window. This can be extremely unsettling when you are working with an insurer, no matter the size of the company—especially if you are in dire straits after an accident or dealing with property damage. You may have lost money due to not being able to work or loss of profits to your business if there was damage or a liability suit, and the clock is ticking louder with every hour that passes and the insurance company does not call back.

Usually the insurer adjuster is quick to call and begin collecting the facts on any case, and even more so when they hope to settle the case with as little time, effort, and expense as possible. The investigation is vital to any claim though, and usually they begin by attempting to interview you; although it is understandable that the adjuster would want to speak with you, this may be one of the most important steps you take in referring them to your attorney—especially if you are dealing with a case like a car accident where you have been injured. From there, the adjuster should be dealing with the scene of the claim. In many instances, they will go to the site and take pictures, as well as speak with witnesses who were on the scene.

If important evidence is being overlooked, then the insurer may be acting in bad faith regarding your claim. Other signs that you may be dealing with bad faith practices include a variety of different intimidation tactics from accusing you of lying or fraud, to intimidating witnesses, or delaying payment on claims, offering low-ball settlements, or denying claims unreasonably. If you suspect bad faith practices, this is not the time to go it alone!

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!

Insurance allows us to have things, keep them, and replace them if necessary—without being forced into financial ruin. And although the policies themselves sometimes tend to be complicated, the basic premise is simple: you find an insurer and then pay them premiums to protect against loss. This may be for any type of insurance, including auto insurance, health and life, homeowner’s, general liability, professional liability (errors and omissions), and more.

The process usually starts out easily enough. Depending on what lines of insurance you seek, an agent or company most be sought out to help you with your purchase. Once you receive your policy, you have the peace of mind in knowing that your home or business is covered, and if something catastrophic were to happen, you would be okay. In the event of a claim, it may be that you were in an automobile accident due to the negligence of others, or you may have had a homeowner’s claim after a fire, weather event, or even a slip-and-fall accident by a guest at your home.

Once the claim has been filed, an adjuster is assigned to the case and begins an initial investigation, usually hoping to interview you and anyone else involved. If they are working for the other side (for instance if you were in a car accident, and due to negligence the other party’s insurer will be paying out) and it appears a settlement may be in order, it is critical not only to have an injury attorney on your side, but also to refer all calls and questions to their office.

In handling the insurance company on your own, you may not only find that they don’t take you as seriously as if you were working with an attorney, but the process may be slow and frustrating. This can be exponentially worse if they are guilty of practicing bad faith. You may find yourself facing incredibly long delays but getting little explanation—and/or it may seem that no one has even begun investigating your claim. Any settlement offers may be extremely low and unreasonable, or the insurer may begin trying to inconvenience you or intimidate you to the point where you drop the case altogether. Less aggressive tactics include pushing you to collect and submit volumes of documentation for your own case. If you think that is what’s happening, it is possible to push back by asking them to clearly explain why such excessive documentation is necessary.

In other cases, you may be subjected to verbal abuse intended to make you back down. This could begin during the interview process and continue from there, to include making accusations which have no basis, threats insinuating there won’t be a settlement, and harassment of witnesses. It is in your best interest to have expert legal help from an experienced office like 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!