Your insurance company is supposed to be there for you when times get tough. So what happens when it turns its back on you instead? Don’t lose hope. If an insurer unreasonably refuses to pay your claim, suing for bad faith could give you the money you rightfully deserve.
Elements of a Bad Faith Insurance Lawsuit
In order to recover compensation in a bad faith insurance claim, you will need to prove two elements. The first element is that the benefits due under the policy were withheld. In other words, you had a valid claim under the terms of your policy, and your claim was denied.
The second element is that your benefits were unreasonably withheld. There are several tactics that insurers have been known to use when denying a claim without a reasonable basis. These can include:
- Falsifying insurance policy provisions
- Misrepresenting relevant facts
- Failing to acknowledge a claim on time
- Failing to conduct a proper investigation of a claim
- Failing to approve or deny claims promptly
- Failing to provide reasons for denying the claim
Insurance Companies That Can Be Sued for Bad Faith
There are grounds for a bad faith claim whenever an insurance company does not uphold its end of the agreement to pay as required by the policy. No company is above bad faith lawsuits. For example, they can be brought against providers of:
- Auto insurance
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Property insurance
- Disability insurance
- Accidental death and dismemberment insurance
Choosing a Bad Faith Insurance Lawyer
A qualified lawyer can mean the difference between obtaining a successful result and walking away from your bad faith claim empty-handed. Boulder attorney Christopher Jeffress worked for insurance companies before deciding to represent innocent claimants instead. He has the insider knowledge needed to stand up against the big guys and fight for your rights.
Call 303-993-8685 to request a free consultation at Jeffress Law, PC. We serve clients in Boulder, Broomfield, Longmont, and the surrounding areas.
