What Is Insurance Bad Faith?

Individuals and businesses who purchase insurance expect to be treated fairly and to receive the legal and factual protection for which they have paid. Unfortunately, not all insurance companies comply with their legal and contractual obligations, and the pressure to increase profits can place an incentive on unscrupulous behavior.

If you suspect that you have been mistreated by your insurance company, you may have a claim for insurance bad faith against the insurance company. Bad faith laws can be difficult to understand – and pursuing a bad faith claim against an insurance company can be time consuming and overwhelming – which is why it is important to contact an insurance claim attorney as soon as possible.

Bad faith insurance attorney Matthew L. Sharp has been representing individuals and businesses in insurance disputes, including claims for insurance bad faith, for more than 30 years. Contact Reno insurance bad faith lawyer Matthew Sharp at his office at (775) 324-1500 to learn more about insurance laws and your legal options.

What Are Insurance Bad Faith Laws?

Insurance laws require insurance companies to treat their customers in accordance with standards of good faith and fair dealing. If an insurance company fails to do so, the conduct may amount to insurance bad faith.

Types of insurance bad faith include:

  • Wrongfully deny payments to policyholders
  • Wrongfully reduce the amount of a claim
  • Fail to provide a reason for claim denial
  • Delay payment of a claim
  • Fail to conduct a fair and complete investigation

Unfortunately, not all insurance companies look out for their policyholders’ interests and they will favor their own interests to the detriment of their customers. When an insurance company acts in bad faith and fails to comply with their duty of good faith and fair dealing, the policyholders may be entitled to financial compensation for the damages caused by the bad faith conduct, including:

  • Insurance policy benefits that were wrongfully denied
  • Financial distress or loss caused by the wrongful denial
  • Emotional distress caused by the wrongful denial

What Should I Do if I Suspect Insurance Bad Faith?

If you suspect that you were the victim of insurance bad faith, you should contact a lawyer as soon as possible. Insurance bad faith laws can be both factually and legally complex. Accordingly, it is important to consult with an attorney who understands these complexities and will fight to get you the financial recovery that you need.

For more than 30 years, Matthew Sharp has focused on handling bad faith claims and other insurance disputes. He has the experience and know-how that you need to pursue an insurance claim efficiently and effectively. He represents clients in insurance disputes involving all types of insurance policies, including:

If you suspect insurance bad faith, contact Matthew L. Sharp at (775) 324-1500 to schedule a free consultation to learn more about your rights and options.