Bad Faith Insurance Claims

BAD FAITH INSURANCE CLAIMS ATTORNEYS IN OVERLAND PARK, KANSAS

What is Bad Faith Insurance?

Insurance policies are legal contracts that outline rights and obligations between insurance companies, or “insurers”, and policyholders (also called “insureds”). When an insurer fails to fulfill its obligations under a policy, a bad faith claim may be pursued by the insured.

On one hand, the insurance company has a right to reject an invalid claim. On the other hand, the policyholder has a right to receive fair payment for legitimate losses according to the terms of the insurance policy. Bad faith insurance law exists to keep these competing interests in balance. Whether you live in Overland Park, Kansas or Kansas City, Missouri, we will be there to guide you through the process.

Insurance companies must fulfill certain duties to their policyholders, such as the duty to investigate every claim and the duty to indemnify, which means paying the claim up to the limit of the policyholder’s coverage. Two forms of insurance bad faith exist: first-party and third-party.

The Difference Between First- and Third-Party Claims

First-party bad faith insurance claims are made by an insured against his or her insurance company. Common examples of first-party bad faith insurance claims include failing to investigate a claim, proposing an unreasonable settlement amount, delaying payment, and failing to communicate with a policyholder.

Third-party bad faith insurance claims involve the insurer, but the opposing party is someone other than the insured. Third-party claims are in relation to liability insurance. For example, when a victim is injured by a third party’s negligence the insurer of the at-fault party would be held liable for the incident.

Insurance companies have a duty to defend and pay costs, even when the majority of lawsuit expenses are often not covered within their policies.

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:

• Delay– Insurance companies will sometimes try to delay the claims process by requesting unnecessary information. They delay the process in the hope that the insured party will give up on the claim and learn to live with their losses.

• Deny– Outright denial is the next tactic an insurance adjuster will use. When the insured refuses to gather the unnecessary documents the bad faith insurance company demanded, the adjuster will usually inform the insured they are denying the claim – even when liability is obvious.

• 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 the claim. The aggressive injury attorneys at Biesterveld & Crook, LLC do not take discounts from bad faith insurance companies.

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 our firm, Biesterveld & Crook, today by filling out the form below.

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Avoiding a Bad Faith Insurance Claim

Proactiveness helps with bad faith claims. Ask any questions you have about the policy ahead of time, so everyone is on the same page. Read the policy so you know what losses are covered.

Look out for these bad faith insurance practices discussed in our previous blog post. An insurance company may send you on a wild goose chase to track down unnecessary documents and forms because they hope you will get frustrated and drop the claim altogether. They may also deny or discount the claim, even when liability is obvious.

If any of these tactics are used, contact us immediately. The lawyers at Biesterveld & Crook, LLC do not waste time dealing with these insurance companies. You deserve every cent you are owed.

What Does a Bad Faith Insurance Claim Cover?

The U.S. legal system holds insurance companies to strict standards to protect citizens. Many don’t know that bad faith insurance claims often lead to recovering damages far beyond the insurance coverage. These damages include statutory penalties, attorney fees, emotional distress, economic loss, and punitive damages.

The worse treatment you receive from the insurance company, the more compensation you can potentially recover for your bad faith claim.

BAD FAITH INSURANCE CLAIM LAWYERS IN OVERLAND PARK, KS

We’re experienced in representing victims impacted by bad faith insurance companies to assess the possible claim and advise whether to pursue the claim. Insurance companies have teams of experienced lawyers on their side. You should hire a lawyer willing to go head-to-head with the insurance company to level the playing field. Schedule a free consultation with our firm in Overland Park, Kansas today.