Bad Faith Insurance
Bad Faith Insurance Lawyers in Lancaster, PA
Bad faith happens when an insurance company fails to honor the terms in your contract. Or, when it fails in some other responsibility it has according to the policy you purchased. You may have a case against the insurance company for bad faith. A Lancaster bad faith insurance lawyer can help you understand your options.
Every insurance contract is an implied promise to act in fair dealing toward the insured. But, more often than we would like to believe insurance companies fail to pay valid claims. Or they will delay the payment of claims. Why would insurance companies do this? In hopes that a person will withdraw their claim or accept a reduced insurance payout.
Big money is at stake. Insurance companies earn interest on their capital reserves. Every day they can delay a claim can translate to enormous profit for them. Where insurance companies act in bad faith, the law provides a remedy.
Bad faith insurance lawyers represent the insured. The insured can be a person or a business. This can cover all types of claims, including the failure to pay health or life insurance benefits. It can also cover disability benefits and loss of income for commercial entities. Or, damage to real estate, commercial and residential, including loss of rental claims.
Our bad faith insurance attorneys help individuals and businesses sort through coverage issues. We help in identifying claims that may not have been clear from the beginning.
We also represent businesses and professionals, like doctors. When insurance is unwilling to settle a valid claim within policy limits, this is commercial insurance bad faith. If an excess claim is entered and insurance was unwilling to settle within the policy limits, this is bad faith. Cases such as these are not uncommon in Lancaster PA.
Insurance Claims and Litigation
Not all first-party insurance claims need litigation. But, we are available to work behind the scenes with the insured. Sometimes you need guidance in presenting your claim. A Pennsylvania bad faith insurance lawyer at Haggerty Silverman & Justice can provide insight on how to present the claim. We’ll help document the files. If a bad faith claim ever arises, the chances of it being successful are greatly increased.
In every insurance contract, there is an implied promise. Insurance is a promise that insurance companies will act in good faith vis-à-vis the insured. Bad faith cases involve a jury. They must consider the facts to determine if the insurance company acted responsibly. Examples of bad faith include denying benefits, delaying payments and paying less than what is owed. Your insurance is required to investigate all claims. It is their duty to research all possible issues in support of the insured’s claim. This requirement doesn’t end when you bring a lawsuit against them for bad faith. Even if the insurer makes a late offer or proposes a settlement, it does not excuse their previous wrongful act. Any payments made will only reduce the total amount the insurance company must pay.
In a bad faith action, it is not necessary to prove that the insurance company intended to cause harm. The policyholder need only show that the insurer failed to honor the agreement and had no cause to not pay what was due under the contract. Under every insurance policy, the risks that are insured make it clear. If a claim is not satisfied the insured will suffer financial and emotional distress.
When a policyholder proves that an insurer breached its contract, the insured can recover all damages caused by the breach. This includes consequential losses, loss of use of the insurance proceeds, general damages, and attorney’s fees. In some cases, the policyholder can also collect punitive damages. If you’ve experienced bad faith practices by your insurance company, we can give you advice. Our Pennsylvania Attorneys have been helping people, like you, since 1994. Howard Silverman has lectured extensively about bad faith insurance claims. He has recovered multi-million dollar settlements from insurance in cases involving bad faith.
Ensure you get fair treatment and the return you deserve. Contact us for help submitting a claim to your insurance company. If you already submitted an insurance claim that is denied or delayed contact us. A Lancaster bad faith insurance lawyer can help. Call or text us anytime at 717-397-3200. Or, use our online form to schedule a free insurance bad faith consultation.
Our office is conveniently located in downtown Lancaster, PA. We offer free consultations. Our building has a private parking lot for customer use.
Bad Faith Insurance FAQs