How To Handle A Bad Faith Insurance Provider

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When you are involved in a car accident, you may need to make an insurance claim against the insurance provider of the other motorist. The problem is that the insurance provider may not always handle your claim in good faith. If this happens to you, it's important that you speak with a car wreck lawyer as you negotiate with the insurance provider.

Are They Acting in Bad Faith?

You might realize that your insurance provider is not properly interpreting the terms of your insurance policy on purpose. If this is the case, you have the right to file a bad faith insurance claim with the help of your personal injury lawyer. Some insurance providers might simply take a very long time to respond to you. They might be trying to delay when they will be required to make a payment. They might hope that this will discourage you from pursuing a claim. They may fail to respond fast enough to acknowledge a covered claim. 

Are They Denying a Claim?

An insurance provider has the right to deny a claim but only if there is a justification for doing so. However, you will want to speak with a personal injury attorney about how you should respond to the denied claim. In some cases, they might deny your claim after failing to investigate it at all. Even if your claim isn't denied, the insurance provider might fail to properly evaluate your claims and calculate damages. As a result, they might make an offer that is much lower than you deserve.

Are They Making Dubious Requests?

You may be asked to submit duplicate documentation. You might also be asked to submit the same documents several times. They may misinterpret policy documents that clearly state that you should be covered as a result of the accident. They may also confirm the claimed amount but not provide the coverage related to the claimed amount.

Fortunately, a personal injury attorney is often familiar with the bad faith tactics and arguments that an insurance provider will make and will help you counter them. By reviewing the facts of your case, the attorney will be able to determine whether your claim should have been denied. If that is the case, your attorney may then file a bad faith claim on your behalf. The bad faith actions can be considered a breach of contract and this may leave you entitled to compensation.


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