Tag: Insurance claims

Errors and Omissions Insurance: Know Who That Protects

Posted by Jeffrey Bolender on February 20, 2019 with 0 Comment

Most of us want the protection that insurance offers, but we would like to think about it as little as possible, and this goes for professionals carrying errors and omissions insurance too. With the advent of online services, the purchasing and maintenance of insurance policies has been simplified more than ever; for instance, you may be able to call a car insurance company, get a quote, put all ‘the wheels’ into motion, and have a policy within less than an hour. Online representatives can lead you in the right direction regarding standard requirements and limits, as well as explaining more about additional coverage you may prefer. Cards and your policy are generated quickly, and in most cases, you can sign up for an online account too for checking billing dates and other details. Usually, complexities arise when there is a claim.

Damage or liability issues may arise when there is an claim due to the negligence of others, whether another motorist ran into you or perhaps you had a homeowner’s claim due to a major construction defect like a faulty electrical or plumbing system. A customer may slip and fall at your business or you may have your own health insurance claim to file due to an unfortunate illness or an accident. In some cases, you may find that there is resistance from the insurer to pay your claim—and while this could be due to a valid yet undisclosed reason, it could also be due to a mistake on your insurance agent’s part. At this point, their errors and omissions insurance kicks in, and that is how the claim is paid; conversely, this could also happen for you if you have professional liability insurance and a client sues you due to negligence.

Errors and omissions insurance (also known as E&O) protects the agent and their company, as well as you from financial loss if a claim is valid and paid out. Insurance agents may produce errors in the application process that could cause a claim to be denied, but in some cases, they may have failed to examine your insurance needs properly, may have overlooked explaining exclusions that could be extremely important, over may have been negligent in attaining your coverage, or completing the filing of a claim for you.

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 Claims: The Adjuster Wants to Speak with You—And Quickly!

Posted by Jeffrey Bolender on February 18, 2019 with 0 Comment

Insurance and handling insurance claims is all about risk management—and this goes for both sides. While you want to protect your finances in the case of a catastrophe, the same goes for the insurance company, with their definition of a catastrophe being paying out too much! The insurance industry thrives on premiums and fees, rolling in over a trillion dollars in the US annually. And while you can bet your insurer is worth millions or billions, they did not attain that position by being friends with everyone.

Your insurance agent may be a different story, and in fact they may be a trusted friend, or someone who was referred to you by a colleague or neighbor as you run in the same social circles. Insurance companies are big business, however, to say the least, and while adjusters may seem warm and even charming in some cases, beware. They are trained to extract as much information from you as possible in the beginning—and do not be fooled, they will use it against you if possible.

Car accidents and resulting claims are a good example of what to expect from adjusters, and how to react. If you have been injured or experienced property damage due to the negligence of another party, you may be especially surprised at how quickly they begin calling you regarding what happened and your current state. This is your cue to begin speaking with an car accident or injury attorney and referring all calls to them. Beyond the most basic facts, you should not share anything with an adjuster. Why? Because, again, any information sharing could inadvertently damage your case.

Adjusters may ask about your injuries—but you may not even know the full scope of what harm what done to you (or to your car!) during a crash. Along with requesting a full account of what happened, they may also request police reports, medical documentation, and may also ask to tape record your conversation. Again, refer them to your attorney.

In the case that you do not hear much from the other side, you may begin to worry that the other insurer is acting in bad faith, evidenced by a lack of investigation, unreasonable delays, requests for outlandish amounts of documentation, or even an outright denial that seems to have no validity.

Five Valid Reasons for Your Insurer to Delay Claims Payment

Posted by rainmakereditor on January 10, 2019 with 0 Comment

While some insurance and receiving claims payment can be extremely straightforward, purchasing other policies can be tricky; for instance, if you are buying a used car and just want liability insurance with standard limits, you may just be able to call an insurer and set everything up over the phone in less than 30 minutes. All your paperwork arrives over email shortly after or you may receive a hard copy in the mail later, ready to be tucked away in a drawer or file cabinet. Other policies require a lot of shopping, thought, and discussion with your agent, such as health insurance, homeowner’s insurance, commercial insurance, and more. The more assets you must protect—the more complex the policy will probably be.

No matter what type of insurance you buy though, and no matter how complicated it may be to get, one thing is certain: if you pay your premiums on time, you expect the insurer to pay out as promised if there is a problem. When that doesn’t happen, many policyholders become extremely frustrated—and understandably so. And if there are red flags such as lack of investigation, major delays, low-ball offers, and more, you may be ready to consult with a bad faith insurance attorney from a law office like the Bolender Law Firm. And although the insurer may be at fault for not handling your claim properly, there could be other explanations.

Here are five valid reasons they may delay:

Unfortunately, there could be a problem from your end such as late payments or unpaid premiums which caused the policy to cancel or caused complication. This could lead to a denial, ultimately.
They are waiting for evidence or more information in an investigation. They may also need to interview you and go over details regarding a claim.
The company may not be dishonest, but just disorganized. While they may not have any plans to act in bad faith, their office may not be as fast as expected in terms of gathering all the facts.
They may be struggling to pay out one claim after another as quickly as expected if there has been damage due to a natural disaster. This could go either way in terms of a claim just being paid out more slowly than you would like or turning into a bad faith lawsuit with the help of a skilled attorney.
They may be taking time to eliminate fraud as a cause in the case. While most likely you have nothing to worry about, some claims may take longer to assess—like a fire—and if there is any doubt, adjusters may have a lengthier investigation.

Claims: How Much Documentation Will the Insurer Require from Me?

Posted by rainmakereditor on October 31, 2018 with 0 Comment

Even in a world that is becoming increasingly wireless—and paperless—there is still plenty of paperwork and documentation required for different services, whether you are operating on the business or personal level. From beginning to end, insurance is about the paperwork; in fact, that’s really all you will have to show for your expenditure as you walk away with a policy in hand, and the cost could be quite substantial for something that is virtually non-tangible.

Read Your Policy & Know What to Expect

Whether you are purchasing car insurance, life insurance, or a variety of different types of business insurance, documentation is required in the beginning and there may continue to be different requests and requirements. When it comes to a claim though, the insurer may ask for a surprising amount of information. This could be even further exaggerated if the insurer has another agenda, whether they are trying to rule out fraud or are practicing in bad faith and hoping to inconvenience you to the point of dropping a case.

A car accident case is usually a good example. If you were injured due to the negligence of another party, don’t be surprised to begin hearing from the other motorist’s insured almost immediately. You may have barely made it out of the doctor’s office or emergency room and into the garage before your phone starts ringing. If you are suddenly dealing with a physical challenge due to injury—and one that could be quite serious and even long-term—it may be extremely difficult to deal with the number of questions an adjuster wants to ask. They may also be trying to trip you up as you discuss the facts and then hope to pin some of the blame for the accident on you. Because of this it is in your best interest (and that of any potential legal case) to refer all insurance calls to your car accident or injury attorney.

Be Suspicious if the Insurer Asks for Inordinate Amounts of Paperwork

In an example like a car accident claim, you can expect requests for paperwork such as a copy of your license and insurance coverage, the accident report filed by local law enforcement, and any medical records. An experienced attorney will be well-apprised of the usual documentation required, and at alert if the insurance company seems to be trying to intimidate you into dropping the case or deny the claim altogether. For other types of insurance—and especially those with large settlement amounts at stake, the insurer may begin reaching far outside the realm of normal paperwork, asking for tax returns and other financial records as they build a case to show fraud or another problem that could feasibly cause the case to be dismissed or allow them to deny quickly.

The amount of information that can be requested is sometimes not clear, and you may have trouble finding that specifically outlined anywhere. If you suspect bad faith practices, call the Bolender Law Firm as soon as possible for help. Other red flags to watch for are lack of an investigation into the case, constant delays that don’t seem to have any rationale behind them, as well as an outright lowball offer.

Contact Us for Help!

Before Filing Insurance Claims: Read Your Policy

Posted by Jeffrey Bolender on August 8, 2018 with 0 Comment

For the average consumer, dealing with insurance or filing insurance claims is usually a double-edged sword. You want the peace of mind in knowing that if you are in a car wreck or your home is flooded, for example, that you are covered in every necessary way possible to pay for medical treatment and damage. Getting to that point requires some work though, beginning with shopping insurance companies and finding an agent you can trust. And although your insurance agent may guide you toward a suitable product, it is also up to you to understand the fine details of what you are purchasing. This can be challenging though sometimes—and if you run into a problem later, consult with a skilled insurance attorney from the Bolender Law Firm to gain a better understanding of what went wrong, and what the insurance company really promised you within the policy.

If you need to file a claim, it probably pertains to one of these types of insurance:

Auto insurance
Homeowners insurance
General liability
Commercial property insurance
Life insurance
Accidental death insurance
Professional liability insurance
Specialized insurance products

The Bolender Law Firm helps clients who expected coverage through all those types of policies but may have encountered a lack of investigation in the case, a lowball offer for a settlement, delay in payment of the claim—or an outright denial. No matter what type of policy you have, make sure you have a copy and that you are able to understand the major sections, from the declaration page identifying the insured, coverages, limits, and how long it is in force—to the insuring agreement, which lists exactly what the insurance company promises to do for you in the case of a claim, from paying out to offering suitable legal defense should that be necessary. The policy may also list exclusions, stating what is not covered, along with endorsements and riders that act as modifications or amendments to the original policy (and which by law, should be sent to you upon any changes).

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!