Unjustly Denied or Delayed Claims

By Segal Law Firm  Feb. 28, 2011 9:26p

The cost of insurance is by no means inexpensive and with as much money that we spend monthly for the privilege of being protected by that insurance, it is not unreasonable for us to expect prompt payment if a claim has to be filed. We are keeping our part of the bargain every time we send in our payments, but on occasion, insurance companies don't keep up their end of the agreement and deny, delay or offer too low a settlement when a claim is filed. When this occurs, it is referred to as "insurance bad faith." 

Types of Insurance Bad Faith

There are different forms of insurance bad faith and they include:

• Unjustly denying a claim - The company must have just reason for denial and must be working honestly and in good faith with your claim.
• Unnecessary delays - When an insurance company delays a claim it can have negative consequences for the insured; this can be considered in bad faith when claims should be investigated and handled promptly.
• Interpretations of the policy that are unreasonable - Policies are difficult to understand and can get quite technical. Sometimes insurance companies will attempt to avoid paying out a claim based on alteration of the terms used in the policy itself.
• Investigations that are carelessly done or incomplete - Inaccurate settlement amounts are calculated when investigations are not done thoroughly or standardly and you may be offered far less money than is warranted.
• Offering unreasonable settlements - Some insurance companies will offer you much less for a settlement than you need to cover the costs of repairing any damages to your vehicle or property and hope that you will quietly accept the offer, after all, then they get to pay you less and keep more money.

Actions to Take

If you have been a victim of insurance bad faith in West Virginia, it would be wise to contact a  West Virginia personal injury attorney to help you. At the Segal Law Firm, we specialize in personal injury law and can investigate the matter thoroughly; if it is concluded that your insurance company is acting in bad faith, we will work to get you the compensation you deserve.

Feel free to call us and contact a West Virginia insurance bad faith lawyer for a free consultation today.