It is not unusual for auto insurance companies to deny or underpay claims whenever they can get away with it. If you are dealing with an at-fault driver’s insurance company, it will try to prove that you were to blame or partially to blame, or that your injuries were caused by something else or not nearly as serious as you claim. The list goes on and on, and it’s really just standard operating procedure for the insurance companies. But, sometimes the insurance companies go too far and get askew of the law, operating in bad faith. If that is happening to you, you may be able to recover damages above and beyond the value of your original claim.
Our Florida auto accident attorneys have in-depth knowledge of insurance bad faith, how to spot it and what to do about it. If you think your insurance company or the other driver’s carrier is trying to cheat you, call us today for a free consultation.
What is Bad Faith?
Insurance companies have to honor the promises made in their contracts. They also have some specific duties set out in state law. Yes, they’ll do what they can to pay you as little as possible, but there are limits to what behavior is acceptable. Examples of bad faith include:
- Failure to communicate promptly about your claim
- Failure to investigate your claim in a timely manner
- Denying your claim without investigation or with a substandard investigation
- Denying your claim without a reasonable explanation
- Making an unreasonably low offer compared to your damages
When you have been injured in a motor vehicle accident, you need an experienced auto accident attorney on your side to fight for full and fair compensation and to handle issues of bad faith when dealing with the insurance companies. Call McPhillips Fitzgerald & Cullum LLP, today or email us to schedule your free initial consultation.
