Holding Insurance Companies Accountable For Bad Faith Denial Of Legitimate Claims
Insurance companies often let people down right when they need help the most. While frustrating, a denied claim doesn’t always mean the insurer has broken any rules. But all too often, insurers do unfairly and intentionally deny, devalue or slow-pay valid claims.
When insurance companies fail to honor policies or engage in bad faith tactics such as misrepresentations to policyholders, we at Mansell & Engel hold them responsible. Our highly experienced attorneys dedicate ourselves exclusively to attaining justice for people in Oklahoma and beyond who have been wronged by their insurance companies.
What Insurance Bad Faith Means
Being insured should mean that your insurance company will provide you with reasonable coverage according to the terms of your policy. However, the insurance company’s first priority is their bottom line, which may not align with doing right by their customers. Their mission to pay out as little as possible can shortchange policyholders who need and deserve to have their claim fully paid.
Insurance companies have a legal and contractual obligation to:
- Investigate claims properly
- Resolve claims in a timely manner
- Pay claims on time and in the correct amount
- Defend policyholders from claims by other parties
- Settle claims against policyholders reasonably
Failing to uphold these duties could constitute bad faith action under the law, especially when the tactics are intentional, systematic or egregious.
What Does Insurance Bad Faith Look Like?
Examples of bad faith insurance actions include:
- Failing to conduct a timely and good faith investigation of your claim
- Denying a legitimate claim without providing any explanation
- Unreasonable interpretation of the policy
- Failing to pay a settlement recovered from a lawsuit
- Unduly delaying your claim for weeks and months
- Endless requests for “additional information”
- Intentionally offering a “lowball” payout out of synch with actual losses and terms of the policy
Insurance bad faith can happen to holders of all sorts of insurance policies, from home and auto coverage to life insurance and long-term disability insurance.
Remedies For Insurance Bad Faith
If you believe your insurer has acted in bad faith against you, there are legal options that can hold them accountable. If they violated the terms of your policy, you can pursue a lawsuit against them for breach of contract. If you prevail, the insurance company may have to pay the original claim plus attorney fees, compensatory damages and sometimes punitive damages. Our lawyers are well-versed in insurance company tactics and have successfully sued the biggest insurers for bad faith.
Talk To An Insurance Bad Faith Lawyer Today
If you’d like to learn more about your legal options for insurance bad faith, contact us to schedule an appointment with one of our experienced attorneys. You can reach us at 405-212-5921 or by sending us a message.