What are Signs of Bad Faith Insurance Practices?
An insurance company may be acting in bad faith if it unreasonably delays, denies, or discounts a claim. This is known as the insurance industry’s “3 D’s” mantra. In part two of our bad faith insurance claim blog series, we will delve into these “3 D’s” and why insurance companies try to use these methods against claimants.
First D – Delay
Insurance companies will sometimes try to delay the claims process by requesting unnecessary information, such as recorded statements. It’s important to never provide a recorded statement without first consulting an experienced bad faith insurance lawyer.
The insurance company may also attempt to send you on a wild goose chase to find and complete unnecessary documents and forms. What does the insurance company get out of delaying the process? They often do this in the hopes that you will give up on the claim and learn to live with your losses.
To make matters worse, the insurance company accrues interest on the money they owe you while you are running around collecting the unnecessary information they requested.
At Biesterveld & Crook, LLC, we provide all the information the insurance company needs to evaluate the claim with a firm deadline to respond. In the event the insurance company refuses to pay the claim, we will file a lawsuit and use the legal process to recover all of our client’s damages.
Second D – Deny
Outright denial is the next tactic an insurance adjuster will use. When you refuse to provide a recorded statement or gather the unnecessary documents the bad faith insurance company demands, the adjuster will usually inform you they are denying your claim – even when liability is obvious.
When an insurance company refuses to pay, Biesterveld & Crook, LLC does not waste time. We talk with our clients about filing a lawsuit immediately when dealing with an insurance company that denies a claim in bad faith.
Once a lawsuit has been filed, our experienced bad faith insurance attorneys have the opportunity to take a formal statement from the at-fault driver (for automobile accidents) or property owner (for slip and fall accidents).
Third D – Discount
Finally, if all else fails, the insurance company will try to discount the claim. This tactic usually occurs after the company has tried to delay and deny your claim. The aggressive injury attorneys at Biesterveld & Crook, LLC do not take discounts from bad faith insurance companies.
Someone with an injury covered by an insurance policy deserves to be fully compensated for their medical bills, lost wages, and non-economic damages such as pain, suffering, inconvenience, and loss of time. An experienced injury attorney knows the law requires jurors to award damages for non-economic damages whenever they find liability for an injury. Therefore, demanding compensation for non-economic damages from an insurance company is more than justified.
Sometimes, in addition to discounting the claim, some insurance companies use the “defend” tactic for their final effort. Following a denied or delayed claim, insurance companies sometimes choose to stand by their suspicious actions and defend their stance in court. Insurance companies know that many of their customers are fearful of going to court, so they hope this tactic causes the claimant to give up.
Importance of Hiring an Experienced Bad Faith Insurance Lawyer
The bad faith insurance attorneys at Biesterveld & Crook, LLC work tirelessly to recover every cent our clients are owed. We believe injury victims should not have to endure the additional stress caused by a bad faith insurance company. There is already enough stress following an injury incident without an insurance company imposing more on the victim.
If you are the victim of bad faith practices, schedule a free consultation with an experienced injury attorney by calling or clicking here.
During our last installment of our bad faith insurance claim blog series, we elaborate on the importance of hiring a personal injury attorney for these situations and the benefits they can provide in advocating for injured victims.