When Your Insurance Company Fails You: Insurance Bad Faith

If you filed a legitimate insurance claim only to encounter inordinate resistance or red tape, you could be a victim of insurance bad faith.

At Hedberg & Boulton, P.C., we understand your frustration and hardships. From our Des Moines, Iowa, offices, our attorneys help victims hold companies accountable for their practices. We also offer free, no-risk consultations.

What Does Insurance Bad Faith Mean?

The term refers to an insurance company’s attempt to renege on its obligations. Here are some examples:

• Unreasonable delays: The insurance company takes an excessive amount of time to investigate your claim or communicate with you.
• Denial of valid claims: The insurer denies your claim without a legitimate reason, often misinterpreting policy language.
• Lowball offers: The insurance company offers a settlement amount that is significantly lower than the actual value of your claim.
• Failure to investigate: The insurer neglects to properly investigate your claim or gathers insufficient evidence before denying it.
• Outright deception: The insurance company misrepresents policy terms or coverage to avoid paying out

When an insurer engages in bad faith, policyholders may be entitled to receive compensation for any resulting damages they experience.

Why Choose Hedberg & Boulton, P.C., For Your Insurance Bad-Faith Case?

Decades of relentless advocacy forged our reputation. We’re a beacon of justice for the wronged.

Along with our dedication and experience, we offer:

• Proven track record: We have a successful history of securing fair compensation for our clients in bad-faith cases.
• Relentless advocacy: We are aggressive in pursuing your rights and holding insurance companies accountable.
• Client-centered approach: We understand the emotional and financial stress you are facing, and we’ll provide personalized attention and support throughout the legal process.

From your initial, free consultation to the final outcome, you have direct access to our experienced lawyers, not just paralegals or junior associates.

Frequently Asked Questions About Insurance Bad Faith Practices

Many individuals have questions about bad faith practices by insurance entities. Below are some questions with helpful answers.

What are common examples of insurance bad faith?

Insurance bad faith is essentially when the insurance company owes an obligation to you and tries to get around it. They may do this by denying valid claims or creating unreasonable delays in hopes you will drop the claim. They may provide lowball offers or fail to properly investigate the claim. They may use outright deception, misrepresenting the policy. Not all claims must be approved, but insurance companies cannot operate in bad faith.

What are my options if I believe my insurance company is committing bad faith?

The most important step to take is to start a bad-faith lawsuit. You can sue the insurance company to get the compensation you deserve. It can help to work with an experienced legal team at this time.

What duty does the insurance company have to their policyholders?

In general, insurance companies have a duty to act in good faith. This does not mean approving every claim, but they do have to approach claim determinations correctly. For instance, they must investigate the claim, settlement costs to provide a reasonable settlement. The insurance policy you signed is a legal contract, binding all parties to its specified terms and conditions.

What type of compensation can I recover in a bad faith insurance lawsuit?

Damages could include compensation for actual financial losses, attorney fees, court costs, emotional distress, interest on the withheld payout and even statutory penalties. Furthermore, the court may decide to award punitive damages if the insurance company engaged in misconduct – these are meant to serve as punishment for insurer bad faith practices.

Call Us For Immediate Guidance. Free Consultations.

We believe informed decisions are crucial, and we will meticulously explain your options. With Hedberg & Boulton, P.C., you are never in the dark.

Call 515-446-9861 or contact us online to schedule your free consultation and stop an insurer from taking advantage of you. We stand ready to fight for the insurance compensation you deserve.