Tag: Bad faith lawyers

insurance company

The Insurance Company Has Plenty of Money—Why Don’t They Pay My Claim?

Posted by jbolender on with 0 Comment

Dealing with the insurance company can be frustrating. Even just handling the basic mechanics of the process can be a trial, from trying to find an insurance agent you trust, to dealing with an online service or chat format. After making your way through that first step, you must also attempt to understand your policy. No matter how many times you have bought insurance, and no matter what your educational background is, you may still find car insurance or homeowners insurance policies to read like a foreign language (one usually known as legalese).

After you have waded through buying an insurance policy and attempting to understand it comes the hard part: paying for it over the long haul. Protecting your property, life, and health certainly is not an inexpensive endeavor—and the insurance companies are more than happy to scoop up your money and put it in their coffers to earn interest. They are not empathetic or sympathetic friends, and they do not feel your pain when you may struggle to pay for a policy, or when you are suffering due to injuries from a car accident or the loss of extremely valuable property. There are many complications to insurance, and it affects us continually throughout life.

Most insurance companies are not hurting financially, so why don’t they pay a valid claim expediently? The answer is simple. They like to pay as little as possible, and for each claim, they want to spend as little time on it also. Insurance adjusters often get bonuses and extra commissions based on how many cases they can turn over with the least amount of settlement money paid out. In more extreme cases, exemplifying bad faith, insurance companies may act like you are the one at fault. Although a bad storm may have damaged your home, or you may have been injured in a car accident due to the negligence of others, the insurance company may spend an inordinate amount of time turning the tables on you. They may even accuse you of fraud.

Insurance companies who do not pay on claims could just be downright hard to deal with, or they may be engaging in bad faith. The bottom line is either they are not paying your claim because they have a valid reason which should be clearly outlined, they are slow to pay because they investigate every claim meticulously (to see if there is any way to get out of paying a settlement), or they may be blatantly acting in bad faith. If a substantial amount of time has passed, it is time to consult with an insurance attorney from an office like the Bolender Law Firm.

Other signs that you are dealing with bad faith include intimidation tactics such as offering you lowball settlements and then intimating that you would not be offered anything else and you better take what you can get, asking for excessive documentation in an effort to run you off, intimidating witnesses by grilling them or acting aggressively over the phone or in interviews, along with unreasonable delays, outright denials, or wild accusations of fraud.

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 policy

Understanding Basic Terms in Any Insurance Policy

Posted by rainmakereditor on with 0 Comment

How much do you really know about your insurance policy, from auto to home to life insurance or general liability? When you think about it, the answer may be that you know surprisingly little—and as complicated and as full of technical jargon as your policy may be, your insurance agent’s knowledge may not be as comprehensive as you hoped either.

In many states, different types of insurance are required, from automobile insurance to workman’s compensation. Many others are typically purchased, however, because having such protection in place is smart. But before you begin shopping for any type of coverage, be aware of exactly what any potential policy entails, as well as understanding the basic terms that may be couched in an overwhelming amount of legalese. Educating yourself before making any purchases means you will be better equipped to review your policy with the insurance agent too:

  • Declarations – this is the basic first page, but very important to doublecheck when you receive your policy as it should include everyone who is covered as well as general information about the policy and timeframes encompassed.
  • Coverage – property and damages that will be covered in the event of a claim are explained in detail; liability coverage may be explained here too.
  • Premiums & deductibles – this is one of the most important parts of your policy as it explains how much you are due to pay, when, and the extent of your deductibles.
  • Exclusions & limits – here, you can understand what types of coverage will not be covered in your policy, along with other types of coverage that will be paid in the event of a claim but only to a certain dollar amount.
  • Conditions – what must be met for the claim to be paid; for instance, a damaged home should be secured after catastrophe to protect it as much as possible from further decline, law enforcement should be called if necessary in the case of an accident, and the policyholder must comply with investigations carried about by the adjuster.
  • Endorsements – additional insurance coverage that can be purchased at extra expense outside the basics of the policy.

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!