Tag: Insurance adjuster

insurance topics

Insurance Topics: Defining Bad Faith

When you purchase an insurance policy, there may be many complexities within the policy and the outlined details of coverage, but one thing is simple: you are paying established premiums to the insurance company in exchange for financial protection if something goes wrong; for example, if you have an automobile accident, you expect the insurance company (or the insurer of the other negligent party in many cases) to pay for damage and injuries. If you are sued by a client, you expect your professional liability insurance to protect you and your business. Other products like life insurance can act as protection for your family, offering an inheritance or income to them after you are gone.

Coverage is outlined in your policy, specifying who the insured and the insurer are, what is covered, how much insurance there actually is, and how much it costs—along with any deductibles. Although many are just generic templates, policies and wording regarding coverage can often be difficult to understand. Keep in mind that your insurance agent may be a great salesperson, but even they may not even understand everything about the policy, and especially if it has riders attached to it, or a variety of other addendums. Skilled, experienced attorneys from the Bolender Law Firm can help you understand your policy better, and especially if you suspect there may be a possible bad faith claim.

Making sense of an insurance policy can be difficult—and so can paying the premiums. In some cases, they may be very high, and as a consumer, you may struggle to pay for several different types of insurance products in your personal life—as well as for your business. Because of that, you may be extremely frustrated when the insurance company is not following through on their promise to see that your car, home, or business are financially secure in the case of an accident or negligence claim. A bad faith claim is brought forth when the insurance company is not following through on their promises, resulting in a bad act toward the policyholder.

Examples of your insurer acting in bad faith could be: not investigating your claim sufficiently—or at all—or only extending an extremely low offer. They may be dragging their feet on paying the claim also, only paying part of it, or denying it altogether. Contact us as soon as possible if you need an experienced bad faith litigation attorney, concerning the following types of insurance:

  • Commercial property and liability insurance
  • Homeowners insurance
  • Automobile insurance
  • Directors & Officers insurance
  • Life insurance
  • Accidental death insurance
  • Professional liability insurance
  • Specialized insurance products

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!