When an insurance company regularly collects premiums for a policy, you would – and should – expect that insurer to provide the necessary coverage if you are injured. Unfortunately, in many cases, insurance companies can be primarily concerned with profit margins and pleasing their shareholders, which can be accomplished by denying payouts whenever possible. This leaves consumers facing unnecessary and overwhelming costs, even after they paid premiums for their policies.
In some situations, delaying or denying a claim can be so unfair that the insurance carrier has acted in “bad faith.” Insurance contracts state that an insurer will act in good faith and, if they fail to do so, it constitutes a breach of contract. In addition, the law in Florida protects consumers from acts of bad faith by insurance companies. However, seeking the remedies you deserve can be complicated as an insurer will try to aggressively defend against bad faith claims.
It is important to have a law firm representing you that understands how to protect your rights and ensure you receive the coverage and damages you deserve. If you believe your insurance carrier has acted wrongfully, please call to discuss your situation for free with a St. Petersburg Insurance Carrier Bad Faith Attorney at Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA.
Identifying Bad Faith Claims
While you may think you deserve a larger settlement or that your payout is taking too long, not every delay or denial by an insurer rises to the level of “bad faith” under the law. You should always have a skilled insurance claims lawyer evaluate your rights and options if you are in a struggle with your insurance company. Even if you do not have a bad faith claim, our lawyers can help you negotiate a fair settlement or explore other possible options to obtain compensation.
Even though contractual agreements and Florida law prohibit an insurance carrier from acting in bad faith, it does happen and you can incur substantial losses as a result. The following are only some examples of bad faith on the part of your insurer:
- Not investigating a claim in a timely and thorough manner
- Interpreting policy language in an inappropriate or unreasonable manner to avoid payment
- Causing unreasonable delay of payment
- Unreasonably denying coverage (partial or complete denials)
- Refusing to engage in settlement negotiations
- Refusing to give an explanation for a denial
Bad faith actions on the part of an insurance carrier can leave you without the benefits you rightfully deserve and for which you paid premiums. If your insurer’s actions did constitute bad faith, our legal team at Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA can help you file a legal claim against the company to seek not only the benefits you originally sought but also compensation for any additional losses you incurred as a result of the bad faith. In some situations, we can seek punitive damages if the insurance company’s actions were particularly unreasonable, harmful, and egregious.
Simply having an attorney on your side who understands bad faith claims may be enough for you to obtain the coverage you need without litigation. However, if you do need to file a legal claim, you need to ensure your attorney has extensive experience facing off against insurance companies in court. Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA has the resources and experience to protect your rights as an insured and to hold insurance carriers accountable for any bad faith acts.
Discuss Your Situation with Our St. Petersburg Insurance Claims Attorneys Today
If you have been in an accident, insurance companies can often make it difficult to receive the coverage you deserve. Whether an insurer has offered an insufficient payout amount, is delaying payment, or has denied your claim completely, you should not wait to call a St. Petersburg insurance bad faith lawyer for assistance.
Call Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA at 727-222-6922 for a free consultation today.
St Petersburg Office
1663 1st Ave S.
St. Petersburg, FL 33712
Phone: (727) 472-3909