If you have been injured as a result of someone else’s negligence, you naturally look to the insurance company involved to treat you fairly by standing behind its coverage and compensating you for the losses you have suffered. It is important to remember, however, that some insurance companies are not above cutting corners when it comes to coverage – in a bad-faith effort to increase profits. As such, there are several telltale signs for which you should be on the lookout.
Failing to Correspond in a Timely Manner
An important component of the insurance process involves corresponding with claimants in a timely manner. If the insurance representative in your case is slow to get back to you – or seems to be ignoring you – he or she may be stalling the insurance process in a bad-faith attempt to wear you down (and accept a lowball settlement offer) or to encourage you to forget about the claim entirely. Communication with the insurance representative dealing with your case should be open, informative, and uncomplicated.
Delaying Payment by Making Extensive Requirements
If the insurance company is requiring you to provide prodigious amounts of documentation and evidence related to your claim, it could be a stall tactic. Arbitrarily delaying the settlement process is an unfair practice that can leave you facing mounting medical expenses – and can leave you far more amenable to accepting a settlement amount that is less than fair.
Denying Your Claim without Adequate Cause
If the insurance company denies your valid claim outright, there is a good chance that it is hoping you will walk away without a backward glance – conceding defeat and accepting the insurance provider's decision. While the insurance company has the right to deny any claim that it determines – in good faith – to be invalid, it cannot do so without providing you with specific, legitimate reasons.
Pressuring You to Accept a Less than Adequate Settlement Offer
Another bad-faith tactic that insurance companies sometimes stoop to is pressuring claimants like you into accepting settlements that unfairly fail to cover their full range of damages. The following kinds of excuses often play starring roles in this unfair practice:
The insurance rep explains that the policy simply does not cover the damages you have incurred.
The insurance rep maintains that the amount offered is the maximum allowable under the policy.
The insurance rep attempts to persuade you that the policy in question does not cover your full ranges of damages.
It Is Time to Consult with an Experienced Killeen Personal Injury Attorney
If you have been injured as a result of someone else’s negligence and the insurance company is exhibiting signs of acting in bad faith, Brett Pritchard at The Law Office of Brett H. Pritchard in Killeen, Texas, is a formidable personal injury attorney with a proven track record of successfully championing the rights of clients like you. Your case is too important to leave to chance, so please do not hesitate to contact or call us at 254-501-4040 for more information today.