Is Your Vehicle Insurance Carrier Acting in Bad Faith Post-Auto Accident?

After you’ve been in a car accident, you anticipate that your insurance carrier will be able to work with you to fairly compensate you for property damage, medical bills, and other accident-related expenses. After all, that’s why you purchased the policy. However, many accident victims are caught off guard when they discover this may not be the case.

Indications That Your Car Insurance Carrier Could Be Acting in Bad Faith After Your Collision

Insurance carriers are businesses like any other and have a bottom line to protect. Their ultimate goal is to avoid paying out claims whenever possible to avoid significant losses to the company. To achieve this, they may act in bad faith towards accident victims. Here are some indicators to look for to see if your insurance carrier may be acting dishonorably.

1. They Deny a Claim That Should Be Covered Under Your Policy

Often, an insurance adjuster will deny a claim outright without looking at the evidence. They’re banking on the fact that many of these people won’t appeal the denial. Be wary if your policy clearly states your accident is covered but your insurance company denies it.

2. They Fail to Process Your Claim in a Timely Manner

All insurance companies are required by law to process accident claims without unreasonable delay. This is due to the fact that if a case passes the statutes of limitations, the accident victim can no longer pursue compensation. If an insurance carrier is acting in bad faith, this may be their very objective. Pay attention to how long it takes for your case to move through the appropriate stages with your insurance company to ensure there are no extended delays.

3. The Initial Settlement Offer Is Extremely Low

You should go into settlement negotiations with your insurance carrier already having an idea of what a fair award would be. Expect the insurance to lowball you initially, but if the first offer is significantly lower than even that, this could mean your insurance provider is acting in bad faith. You can attempt to negotiate a larger settlement if you are able to provide evidence that your costs and damages are much higher than what the insurance company is offering.

Is Your Vehicle Insurance Company Refusing to Cooperate With You After a Car Accident?

Your insurance carrier may be a bad faith actor. Frank D. Butler can help. Call for your free initial consultation at 800-253-2531.