You buy insurance with the hope that you will never need to use it. If something bad does happen, you deserve a smooth experience with an insurer who does not act in bad faith just to save themselves money. A lawyer from our Middleton office can protect you during this difficult time.
At Ged Lawyers, we have seen how insurers try to take advantage of the people who depend on them for prompt and fair payments. Our Middleton personal injury lawyer can speak to the insurer for you and fight for the best possible outcome.
How to Deal With and Prevent Bad Faith Behavior From Insurance Companies
There are several things you can do to make your experience with the insurer a safe one, including:
- Collecting plenty of documentation to prove your losses. This step includes taking copious photos of the damage and saving important paperwork, like bills and repair estimates.
- Hiring our Middleton bad faith insurance lawyer. Ged Lawyers can swiftly take charge and monitor your insurer’s behavior for any sign of bad faith actions.
- Allowing our attorney to handle all paperwork, phone calls, and other communications with the insurer. This minimizes your insurer’s ability to talk to you directly and try to persuade you to give up your right to a fair settlement.
Speak to Your Middleton Insurer as Little as Possible
The insurance company may look for any opportunity to undermine or undervalue your claim so they can get out of paying more than they want to pay. If they try to get in touch with you, it is a good idea to:
- Be courteous, but do not have a long conversation with them
- Tell them that you would be more comfortable if they spoke to your personal injury attorney about your claim from now on
- Give them our contact information, or tell them that you are in the process of hiring a lawyer and will get the contact information to them soon
- Inform us of the interaction, including how the insurance representative treated you (e.g., were they polite, or did they seem aggressive?)
Can You Sue a Bad Faith Insurer in Middleton?
If you can show that the insurer’s behavior has done you harm, then yes, you can file a lawsuit against them. Such a legal action would:
- Compel them to pay any money they still owe you on your claim
- Allow you to seek damages for losses incurred specifically due to the insurer’s negligence, such as emotional distress or any additional expenses you incurred
- Hold the insurer accountable for the suffering and pain they have caused
The Process of Suing a Bad Faith Insurer
Just like with every other facet of your case, Ged Lawyers would be happy to handle the entire lawsuit on your behalf. We can:
- Send a demand letter to the insurer, detailing why you are suing and how much you want from them
- Negotiate with the insurer’s representatives until they agree to pay for your losses
- Draft the settlement agreement and go over it with you before we finalize that agreement
- Remind the insurer that we are willing and able to go to trial if they do not start cooperating
- Prepare for trial by holding a mock court at our office and then represent you in the real courtroom
Speak with a legal representative of Ged Lawyers today about your case. If you feel that the insurance companies are not treating you fairly, we can help.
Warning Signs That Your Middleton Insurer Is Not Acting in Good Faith
No matter why you are filing an insurance claim—whether your propane tank exploded or you were hit by a truck—you are entitled to courteous and fair treatment from your insurer. The following are signs that you should alert Ged Lawyers immediately because the insurer might not be treating you as well as they should be:
The Insurer Makes Unreasonable or Impossible Requests
The insurance adjuster does have to investigate your loss, and they should do so in a timely manner (although very complex cases may take longer to complete than others). However, there are some things the adjuster does not need to do, such as:
- Speaking to you without your lawyer present
- Recording your statement about the incident
- Asking for evidence you have already given them or that has no clear bearing on the situation
The Insurer Draws Bad Faith or Inaccurate Conclusions
For example, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts requires all drivers to carry personal injury protection (PIP). You should, therefore, be covered if you get in a car accident and need money to pay for your medical care. Despite this, the insurance company might say that:
- There is no evidence that your injuries were caused by a car accident
- Your injuries are worth less than you say they are
- Your policy does not cover a specific kind of injury or a specific kind of collision
The Insurer Fails to Communicate With You
Communication is very important during an insurance claim. You have a responsibility to file your claim promptly and to provide reasonable evidence to support it. The insurer is responsible for:
- Acknowledging receipt of your claim
- Telling you when they have reached a decision
- Responding to any requests or additions you make
- Sending you a check for the approved amount
Ged Lawyers Protects Clients From Bad Faith Insurers
In some cases, the above behavior is not an example of bad faith. For instance, maybe they did not acknowledge your claim because a computer glitch prevented them from receiving it, or maybe there was genuine confusion over your case’s worth or what you were asking for.
Ged Lawyers can work with the insurer to clear up any misunderstandings—and if it turns out they really were acting in bad faith, we can help you figure out what actions to take to protect your rights.
Protect Yourself From Bad Faith Insurers in Middleton
The best way to protect your rights is by speaking with our Middleton bad faith insurance lawyer even before you have filed a claim for your losses. Call Ged Lawyers today to get a free case review. We can evaluate your case for free, and we only charge attorney’s fees once we get money for our clients.
