How To Tell if Your Insurer is Acting in Good Faith
Insurance is something you pay for every month, hoping you never have to use it. If you did need to make an insurance claim, it means you’ve been in some kind of accident and either got hurt, your car was damaged, or both. No matter what happens, you hope your insurance company will act in good faith.
When an insurance company acts in bad faith, it could be actionable. The Law Offices of Matthew L. Sharp have helped many clients push back against insurance carriers who have treated claimants poorly.
Here are some of the ways that you can tell if your insurer is acting in good faith.
They Approve Your Claim
Having your claim approved is the best outcome for your situation. That confirms you were justified in filing the claim, and you and your attorney presented substantial evidence of who was at fault. If the insurance company denied your claim without any justification, that would be an example of acting in bad faith.
They Conduct a Thorough Investigation
The insurance company that you file a claim with is entitled to conduct an investigation into that claim. That will involve assigning an adjustor who will review all the relevant evidence. When that adjustor conducts a thorough investigation, they will be able to confirm your assertions. You don’t want the adjustor to conduct an investigation that is too short or takes too long.
They Accept Your Evidence
When you get into a car accident, there will be a crash report that you and the insurance company will have access to. You and your attorney can provide additional supportive evidence, such as photos, surveillance videos, and witness statements that detail what happened. An insurance company acting in good faith will accept your evidence. You don’t want them demanding excessive proof that isn’t necessary.
They Pay the Agreed Settlement Amount
Once the insurance company has agreed to the settlement amount, they should have no issue with cutting a check and sending it out. That will usually happen within a few days of signing the release agreement that stipulates that you agree not to make any future claims. If the insurance company delays sending out the payment after you’ve signed the release, they are not acting in good faith.
They Treat You with Respect
The aftermath of an accident can be stressful, especially if you have mounting bills that need to be paid. You want your insurance company to treat you with respect as they expedite your claim. You should never feel threatened or intimidated in any way when you interact with the insurance company. That also means responding promptly to any of your queries.
They Provide You with Documentation
An insurance company can deny your claim and still be acting in good faith as long as they provide you with the relevant documentation as to why they came to their decision. That documentation will be vital if you decide to appeal their decision and file a civil complaint. You don’t want the company to withhold that documentation.
When an Insurer Acts in Bad Faith
What happens if the insurance company you’re dealing with for your accident claim acts in bad faith? It is not uncommon for an insurance carrier to want to deny a claim or be unresponsive. They hope you won’t put up a fight. The Law Office of Matthew L. Sharp helps its clients achieve the maximum compensation they are entitled to recover.
We know all the bad faith tactics that insurance companies will try to pull and will be ready to respond. If you’re having issues with an insurance company, we want to hear what happened.
Call to set up a consultation today.
