Wells Trumbull of Everett Is Your Bad Faith Insurance Attorney
Buying insurance has always been an ideal way to protect oneself from various risks financially. Homeowners insurance protects your home and personal belongings in the event of a fire, theft, or other disasters. Auto insurance covers your car in the event of an accident. Health insurance kicks in when you need medical care.
But what happens when your insurer doesn’t hold up their end of the bargain? What do you do when the insurance company denies your legitimate claim or otherwise acts in bad faith?
That’s where an experienced Everett bad faith insurance attorney from Wells Trumbull can help. With the right attorney on your side, you can level the playing field and give yourself the best chance of getting the full and fair compensation you deserve in insurance disputes.
Read on to learn more about bad faith insurance and how an Everett personal injury attorney can help if you find yourself in this situation.
We encourage you to give us a call today to discuss your insurance case and the next steps. Contact us at (360)435-1663 today for a free consultation.
What Is Bad Faith Insurance?
Bad faith insurance is a term used to describe when an insurance company acts in a way that is contrary to the duty of good faith and fair dealing that they owe to their insureds. This can include denying legitimate claims, refusing to pay benefits owed under a policy, and engaging in other unfair or deceptive practices.
Bad faith insurance claims are those that are brought against an insurer for violating their duty of good faith and fair dealing. These claims can be brought individually or as part of a class-action lawsuit. They are often filed after an insurer denied a claim or acted in bad faith.
Acting in good faith is not just a moral obligation – it’s also a legal one. An insurance company’s acts in bad faith may violate state and federal laws. This can lead to them being required to pay damages to their policyholders.
If you have been wrongfully denied a claim by your insurance company, or if you believe they have acted in bad faith, you should contact an experienced Everett bad faith insurance lawyer. An attorney can help you determine if you have a valid bad faith insurance claim and guide you through the process of filing one.
What Penalties Does an Insurance Company Face for Bad Faith?
When an insurance company acts in bad faith, it may be subject to civil or criminal penalties.
In some cases, the insurance company may have to pay damages to the policyholder. This can include compensatory damages, designed to reimburse the policyholder for their losses, and punitive damages, designed to punish the insurance company for their bad faith actions.
In other cases, the insurance company may be subject to criminal penalties. This can include fines and jail time for the employees involved in bad faith actions.
Signs That Your Insurance Company May Be Acting in Bad Faith
There are a few signs that may indicate that your insurance company is acting in bad faith. If you notice any of the following, you should contact an experienced personal injury lawyer as soon as possible:
Constant Delay Tactics
One of the most common signs of bad faith insurance is when an insurer constantly delays your claim without any good reason. They may do this by requesting more and more documentation, asking for clarification on certain points, or simply not returning your calls or emails.
While this may seem a minor annoyance initially, it can quickly become a major problem. The longer your claim is delayed, the more difficult it becomes to get the compensation you deserve. If you find yourself in this situation, an experienced bad faith insurance lawyer in Everett can help you hold the insurance company accountable and get the compensation you need.
Denying Legitimate Claims
Another common sign of bad faith insurance is when an insurer denies a legitimate claim. This can happen for a number of reasons, including if the insurance company says your policy doesn’t cover the incident in question or if they say you are not eligible for benefits.
If you have been denied a claim, it’s important to contact an experienced bad faith insurance attorney in Everett as soon as possible. An attorney can help you determine if the denial was justified and, if not, take legal action against the insurance company.
Refusing to Pay Benefits
If your insurance company has agreed to pay benefits under your policy, they are legally obligated to do so. However, in some cases, insurers will refuse to pay these benefits. This can happen because the insurance company is trying to delay the payment or because they dispute the amount that is owed.
If you find yourself in this situation, you must contact an Everett bad faith insurance attorney immediately. An attorney can help you get the benefits you are entitled to and hold the insurance company accountable for its actions.
Lowballing Your Settlement
Another common sign of bad faith insurance is when an insurer offers you a much lower settlement than what you deserve. This can happen because the insurance company is trying to save money or because they think you will take the offer just to avoid going to court.
Lowball settlements are unfair and can leave you with thousands of dollars in medical bills and other expenses. If you have been offered a lowball settlement, an experienced Everett bad faith insurance lawyer can help you negotiate for a fair amount.
Canceling Your Policy Without Just Cause
In some cases, insurance companies will cancel your policy without just cause. This can happen if you make a claim, if your premiums increase, or for other reasons. If this happens, it can be difficult to get insurance coverage in the future.
If you have had your policy canceled without just cause, a Wells Trumbull insurance bad faith lawyer in Everett could help you take legal action against the insurance company.
The Duty of an Insurance Company
When you purchase an insurance policy, the insurance company enters into a contract with you. This contract obligates the insurer to act in good faith and deal fairly with you. This means that the insurance company must take your interests into account when making decisions about your policy. They cannot simply do whatever they want, including denying legitimate claims or engaging in other bad faith behavior.
If the insurance company breaches this duty, you may have a legal claim against them. An experienced Everett personal injury lawyer can help you determine if this is the case and guide you through the process of obtaining justice.
Acting in good faith also means that the insurance company must provide you with the coverage you are entitled to under the terms of your policy. If they refuse to do so, this may also give rise to a bad faith claim.
Difference Between First-Party and Third-Party Bad Faith Insurance Claims
There are two types of bad faith insurance claims: first-party and third-party.
First-party bad faith insurance claims in Washington are made when an insurance company denies a claim or benefits that are owed to the policyholder. This can happen if the insurance company says the policy doesn’t cover the incident in question or if they refuse to pay the benefits that are owed. For example, if you have a health insurance policy and the insurance company denies your claim for medical benefits, you would have a first-party bad faith insurance claim.
Third-party claims are made when an insurance company denies a claim or benefits that are owed to someone who is not the policyholder. This can happen if the insurance company says the policy doesn’t cover the incident in question or if they refuse to pay the benefits that are owed. For example, if you are in a car accident and the other driver’s insurance company denies your claim for medical benefits, you would have a third-party bad faith insurance claim.
How an Everett Insurance Bad Faith Attorney Can Help
If you have been the victim of bad faith insurance, you may be entitled to compensation. An experienced bad faith insurance lawyer can help you get the compensation you deserve.
Having the right bad faith insurance lawyers on your side can make all the difference in your case. While you can deal with the insurance company on your own, an attorney will have the insurance law knowledge and experience to deal with them effectively. An attorney can also help you get the full amount of compensation you are entitled to.
An experienced bad faith insurance attorney will work on a contingency basis to get you the compensation you deserve. This means that you will not have to pay anything upfront. Instead, the attorney will get paid a percentage of your settlement or verdict.
If you have been the victim of bad faith insurance, contact an experienced personal injury lawyer today for a free consultation.
Get the Legal Representation You Deserve
Insurance companies are supposed to act in good faith when dealing with their policyholders. Unfortunately, this doesn’t always happen. If you have been the victim of bad faith insurance, you may be entitled to compensation. By working with an experienced Everett insurance bad faith lawyer, you can get the compensation you deserve without having to pay anything upfront.
Contact our team today to arrange for a free case review, and let’s get started working together on your bad faith insurance claim.