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Bad Faith Insurance Litigation
Chandler Law skillfully handles bad faith insurance litigation cases where insurance companies fail to honor policy obligations, delay payments, or deny valid claims without a reasonable basis.
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As a policyholder, your insurance with your insurer is founded upon a written contract. You pay your premiums and your insurer has a legal obligation to provide the coverage and uphold the terms and conditions of that contract. That obligation to you includes paying valid claims made against the policy by you.
However, insurers do not always live up to their contractual obligations. To increase their profitability, an insurance company may deny your claim or pay much less than the claim is actually worth. This is called “bad faith” insurance and, when it happens, you have the right to hold your insurer accountable through a claim or lawsuit.
At Chandler Law, our firm is known throughout Fresno, Madera County, Kern County, and Tulare County for its outstanding work in insurance bad faith litigation.
For example, in 2003, Stuart Chandler obtained a Bad Faith Insurance verdict on behalf of his client against Fire Insurance Exchange for failing to defend the insured. The jury returned a verdict for Mr. Chandler’s client, a farm worker, in excess of 26 million dollars. Fire Insurance Exchange is a subsidiary of Farmers Insurance Exchange. This outcome reflects the skills, diligence, and relentless advocacy of Mr. Chandler and his team.
If you’re ready to discuss your case with our attorneys, contact our office and schedule a free consultation today.
What is a bad faith insurance litigation case?
A bad faith insurance litigation case involves legal action taken against an insurance company for failing to fulfill its obligations under the terms of an insurance policy. This can include actions such as:
- Unreasonable Denial of Claims: Denying a valid claim without a legitimate reason.
- Delaying Payments: Unnecessarily delaying the processing and payment of a claim.
- Inadequate Investigation: Failing to conduct a proper and thorough investigation of a claim.
- Lowball Settlements: Offering significantly less compensation than what the policyholder is entitled to receive.
- Misrepresentation: Providing misleading information about policy coverage or terms.
In a bad faith insurance litigation case, the policyholder seeks to hold the insurance company accountable for these actions and obtain the benefits and compensation they are rightfully owed. This legal recourse is essential to ensure that insurance companies act in good faith and adhere to their contractual commitments.
Contact Chandler Law by calling (559) 431-7770 today to get started with one of our Fresno insurance bad faith litigation attorneys.
What should I know before beginning bad faith insurance litigation?
Unfortunately, insurers often employ tactics designed to avoid their obligations to policyholders. This can occur in a variety of ways. It can apply to any type of insurance policy, from health insurance to homeowner policies, auto insurance, life insurance, and more. This area of law can be complicated by whether the matter involves your own insurance company or a third-party insurer. It is much easier, though still challenging, to prove bad faith on the part of your own insurer than a third party. Our team can evaluate your situation to determine the facts.
Examples of bad faith can include but are not limited to:
- Undue delay in handling a claim
- Insufficient investigation into the claim or undue delay in initiating an investigation
- Refusal to defend a lawsuit
- Refusal to make a reasonable settlement offer
- Making unreasonable demands on or threatening the policyholder
- Misrepresentation of the facts or contract provisions to policyholders
- Forcing the claimant to litigate because the insurer refuses to make a reasonable settlement offer
- Failure to provide reasonable notice or justification of a denied claim
- Cancellation of your policy retroactively after filing a legitimate claim
The above are only a few of the bases for bringing a bad faith claim against your insurer. Each situation is unique and therefore it is recommended that you discuss your case with one of our attorneys. It is important to understand that, just because you disagree with an adjustor’s opinion about your claim, it does not necessarily mean bad faith. Simple mistakes on the part of your insurer also do not constitute bad faith.
How much is a bad faith claim worth?
No two bad faith insurance claims hold the same value, as the worth of each claim depends on several factors. These factors include:
- The type of insurance policy involved
- The specific conduct exhibited by the insurance company
- The financial and other losses suffered by the policyholder
- The strength of the evidence supporting the allegation of bad faith
In some cases, claim values may range from thousands of dollars to millions, depending on the severity of the insurer’s actions and the extent of the policyholder’s damages.
Furthermore, punitive damages may be awarded in cases where the insurer’s conduct was particularly malicious or fraudulent, further increasing the potential value of a successful bad faith insurance claim.
As a result, it is crucial for individuals pursuing such claims to seek legal advice from experienced insurance bad faith litigation attorneys, who can provide a thorough analysis of their unique situation and offer a more accurate estimation of potential claim value.
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