What should you do when you discover that your own insurance company is taking advantage of you by not fulfilling their obligation to cover your injury? The situation is frustrating, not to mention, unfair. When your own insurance company denies, delays, or fails to make a reasonable settlement for your legitimate claims and benefits, they are acting in “bad faith”. Know your rights and understand what constitutes a bad faith injury claim against your own insurance company in Pennsylvania. In this article, we will discuss examples of bad faith scenarios that you should look out for.
- Delaying the claims process. A reliable insurance company should be prompt in assessing the validity of your claim and provide an immediate response. If your insurance company purposely delays the investigation process for no apparent reason, this could be a sign of bad faith. Such delays could result in undue hardships, not only because of the prolonged wait, but also because it could impact the medical attention and recovery you require.
- Lowball settlements. When an insurance company offers you a lowball settlement, this means they are not taking your claim seriously and are trying to minimize their cost as much as possible. Often, the amount is significantly lower than your claim amount, which is a sign that they don’t consider the full extent of your injury. This is a strategy that they use to compel you to accept this small amount and forego your rights to seek further compensation.
- Denying a legitimate claim. When an insurance company denies your claim entirely or disregards important details regarding your injury, that could be an act of bad faith. Denying a legitimate claim without a reasonable explanation is a sign that you are being taken advantage of. If this happens, you should consider consulting an attorney who can help you fight for your rights.
- Ignoring your claim completely. There are times when an insurance company does not give any response to your claim. This can be frustrating for you as you are trying to get the help you need. If you have reached out multiple times to follow up your claim, but their customer representative or adjuster has not responded, you could be a victim of a bad faith injury claim.
- Failing to provide documentation. If you request documents relating to your claim and the insurance company fails to produce them despite appearing in their policy documents, this is a sign of bad faith. A company is obligated to provide necessary documents, such as medical documents, insurance policies, receipts, and other records required to prove your claim is legitimate.
Bad faith injury claims are a breach of your rights as a policyholder. When your insurance company acts in bad faith, they are not only disregarding your needs but also violating the law. You have every right to pursue proper compensation regardless of whether the claim is made against your own insurance company. Ensure you review your policy for more information regarding your rights as a policyholder. If you ever suspect or experience any of the bad faith claims discussed in this article, you should contact an experienced attorney who will fight to protect your rights.