Sacramento Insurance Bad Faith Lawyer
Skilled Insurance Bad Faith Lawyers in Sacramento
Whenever you purchase an insurance policy, whether it is a healthcare policy, for your car or home, or disability coverage, you expect that the insurance company will provide the coverage you need under the terms of your policy. Fortunately, the insurance industry is bound by laws in California that protect you when a company refuses to pay a valid claim. Just speak to a Sacramento Insurance Bad Faith Lawyer for answers you are seeking.
What Are Bad Faith Laws in California?
In our state, bad faith laws protect a policyholder when the insurer refuses to pay a claim. California insurance laws require that insurance companies act fairly with regard to policyholders. Anything that considers its own interests before that of the policyholders is considered bad faith.
Unfortunately, it may be a long and complicated road to get to this point. If you have filed a claim with an insurance company that has acted in “bad faith” get the assistance of a Sacramento insurance bad faith lawyer to represent your interests as soon as possible.
Has Your Insurance Company Acted in Bad Faith?
An insurance policy is a contractual obligation. If your insurance company has not lived up to its responsibilities under the contract, bad faith laws can hold them accountable. Under bad faith laws, when an insurance company fails to pay reasonable benefits to a policyholder, the policyholder may have the ability to sue for breach of contract and recover the benefits they are owed plus interest
If you have proof that you have complied with everything correctly with regard to your claim and can still not get a satisfactory resolution from your insurance company, it may be a matter of bad faith. If you think that your insurance company has acted in bad faith, you should get the assistance of a Sacramento insurance bad faith attorney to see if you are entitled to a bad faith claim against your insurance company.
What is Considered Bad Faith?
Bad faith can take many forms in the insurance industry. Some of these can include:
- Denial of benefits
- Refusing to offer a reason for a denial
- Not responding to your claim
- Refusing a fair settlement
- Refusing to process or investigate your claim
- Misrepresentation
- Misleading a policyholder
- Canceling a policy
- Refusing to pay a third-party claim
It’s important to understand that not all denials are considered “bad faith.” To prove a bad faith claim, you must prove that there were benefits under your policy that were withheld from you withheld without reasonable cause.
Damages in a Bad Faith Claim
If it is determined that your insurance company acted in bad faith, the court may award you damages such as
- The entire amount of your loss
- Attorney fees
- Emotional distress
In some cases, the court may even award punitive damages.
The most important aspect of filing a bad faith claim is your ability to prove that you acted in good faith as the policyholder and was still not able to get a resolution. This will require that you
- Understand your policy and terms completely to ensure that you are eligible for benefits.
- Maintain records of anyone you spoke to at the insurance company.
- Maintain copies of any documents that were sent to the insurance company.
- Be aware that you can ask for an appeal after your denial.
- Have your Sacramento insurance bad faith lawyer send a demand letter to the insurance company to put them on notice.
- File a complaint with the California Department of Insurance with the assistance of your Sacramento insurance bad faith lawyer.
Choosing Our Sacramento Insurance Bad Faith Lawyer Now
Policyholders have the right to be treated fairly under the terms of your policy. At Pillsbury & Coleman, LLC, we hold insurance companies accountable when they act in bad faith toward their policyholders. Contact our experienced team of insurance bad faith attorneys in Sacramento to see if you may be entitled to a bad faith claim against your insurance company.