There are many times when insurers offer low settlements or delay claims, but if you’re injured and waiting for a settlement offer, then you should pay close attention to the insurer’s actions (or inaction). If they delay your claim for an unreasonable amount of time, fail to investigate the accident completely or make unreasonable requests, then your insurer could be violating the law.
Any time you purchase insurance, your goal is to make sure that you’re protected in case something goes wrong. Insurance companies act in bad faith if they intentionally don’t represent an insurance contract correctly. They may also be acting in bad faith if they make unreasonable demands of you after a claim or if they don’t disclose policy limitations.
What should you do about a bad-faith insurer?
A bad-faith insurer can hurt those who have legitimate claims and should be stopped. It is important for you to say something as soon as possible if you believe that your insurance company is not acting in good faith. Reach out to your attorney and discuss your concerns. For example, if you bought the policy to make sure you had coverage in case the other driver wasn’t insured but are now being told that you’re not going to receive coverage, this is definitely something to look into.
Your policy should always be well-explained and easy to understand. If the company is misrepresenting its policies to sell them or you are told that you can’t make a claim when you clearly can according to the insurance documents in your possession, then it’s time to look into your legal options.