Is Your Insurance Company Breaking the Law?

Being injured due to someone else’s negligence can leave you overwhelmed by the physical recovery, emotional toll, and mounting financial burdens. When you finally decide it’s time to file a claim with your insurance company, you may be disappointed by a delay, undervaluation, or denial. This outcome could be a breach of trust known as insurance bad faith, which occurs when an insurer puts its financial interests ahead of your right to coverage. If you are dealing with a dishonest insurance company, please continue reading to understand the steps you must take to fight back and how an experienced Monmouth County Personal Injury Attorney can help secure the justice you deserve. 

Is the Insurance Company Playing Games?

When you initially file your claim, the insurance adjuster may present themselves as helpful and sympathetic. However, now that it’s time to provide compensation for your losses, their demeanor has significantly changed. It’s crucial to understand that there is a major distinction between an insurer attempting to negotiate a smaller payout and one that is breaking the law. When an insurer employs misleading, crooked, or purposefully difficult methods to avoid settling a legitimate claim, this is legally defined as bad faith. 

Examples of bad faith insurance practices include:  

• Coercive Lowball Offers: Following an accident, an insurance adjuster will quickly approach you in the hopes of settling the claim before you understand the full scope of your damages. They will present a lowball settlement, attempting to protect their bottom line. It’s important to understand that this rushed process exploits your vulnerable state. If you are being pressured to settle before you have reached maximum medical improvement (MMI), it may constitute dishonest insurance practices. 
• Deliberate Delays: If the insurer intentionally dodges your efforts to communicate regarding the settlement offer, takes substantial time to address inquiries, or continuously assigns new adjusters to your case, it can prolong the process. This tactic aims to exhaust funds by stretching out the resolution timeline while out-of-pocket expenses keep mounting. 
• Ignoring Objective Evidence: Despite compelling evidence, such as an official police report detailing the other party’s fault or explicit medical testimony regarding an injury, the insurer rejects the claim, arguing shared fault or prior conditions. Insurers are legally obligated to perform a diligent and impartial review of the incident. If they willfully dismiss pertinent facts to minimize payout, it’s likely bad faith. 

How Can an Attorney Help?

If you have been injured due to another party’s negligence, you don’t have to navigate the claims process alone. At The Wilton Law Firm, we are prepared to help you seek the compensation you need and the justice you deserve. Our dedicated legal team can help you understand your rights and prove bad faith. Connect with our firm today to schedule your initial consultation.