Five Bad Faith Insurance Practices to Watch for After Your Car Accident

SAN DIEGO, California. Investopedia defines insurance bad faith as any action performed by an insurer that denies its clients the coverage promised under an insurance policy. Bad faith can occur when an insurer refuses to pay a claim that a policy holder is entitled to make. Bad faith can also occur if an insurer delays a legitimate claim or fails to properly investigate a claim. When insurers act in bad faith, victims and families might have the right to pursue a lawsuit against their insurance provider. Huffington Post recently reported that the insurance provider, Aetna was asked to pay $25 million to the family of a woman who was denied access to radiation therapy under her coverage.

If you’ve been in a car accident or if you are making a claim against your insurer, how do you know if your insurer might be acting in bad faith? What are the signs of insurance bad faith? Here are a few things to watch for:

• Your insurer delays in paying your claim. Sometimes insurance companies might delay paying a claim, hoping that you’ll give up pursuing the claim so they don’t have to pay. Insurance companies may have time limits in how long they can wait before investigating a claim. If you believe your insurance company is delaying your claim unfairly, consider speaking to the Law Offices of Bruce S. Meth, a San Diego, California personal injury lawyer.
• Offering a much lower claim than you deserve. Insurance companies have a responsibility to pay your claim to the extent permitted by law and your policy. However, sometimes insurers might use computer programs or estimates to determine the value of your claim. If you aren’t aggressive about supplying information to support your damages, you might end up with a lower settlement than you may deserve.
• Misrepresenting the language of your policy. If your insurance company is citing fine print in your policy that you weren’t aware of until you made your claim, you may want to speak to a qualified personal injury lawyer who can assist you with the claims process. Bruce S. Meth are San Diego, California personal injury lawyers who can review your insurance policy and help you seek the maximum possible compensation permitted under the law.
• Refusing to pay a claim if your claim is valid. Refusal to pay a claim you are entitled to make against your policy is insurance bad faith. You may be entitled to seek damages if you can prove that your insurer’s bad faith resulted in losses.
• Threats. If your insurance adjuster threatens you for making a claim, your insurer might be breaking the law. If you have a valid claim, your insurer should not be making threats.

Have you had trouble making a claim against your insurance after a car accident? If so, you may want to speak to the qualified personal injury lawyers at the Law Offices of Bruce S. Meth in San Diego, California. Our firm can speak to insurance adjusters, write demand letters, and fight your case in court, if necessary.