Insurance companies have an obligation to pay on valid claims made to them by policyholders. When they do not, they may be guilty of "bad faith." A bad faith insurer is one who may deny, delay, or make discounted or lowball offers of settlement to claimants which unfairly reflect the true damages involved. Unfortunately, insurance companies often have major resources in their favor when it comes to claim disputes. They often have huge financial and legal power which can be used for their benefit in the claims process. State insurance regulators often have a tiny percentage of similar resources with which to control insurance companies. Because of this, many "bad acts" on the part of insurers never get corrected.
If you are involved in a situation where you have been victimized by bad faith from an insurer in or around the St. Joseph area, we urge you to contact our firm. At Smith Law, we relentlessly fight bad faith insurers on behalf of clients who have been abused by insurance company tactics. A St. Joseph bad faith insurance lawyer at the firm can review and evaluate your situation and help you take legal action against an insurer who refuses to treat you fairly.
A bad faith claim may involve a policy on your home, life, auto, business, or other real estate property. These bad faith actions can include unreasonably denying your claim, failing to promptly and completely investigate your claim, unreasonably delay paying you what you are owed on a claim, interpreting the terms of your policy in such a way as to deny benefits, offering to pay you a discounted settlement which doesn't fully cover your actual losses or damages, and other adverse maneuvers.
Insurance companies have their own adjusters, representatives, and lawyers working to protect their bottom line, which often means paying out as little as possible. That is why you need your own attorney to help level the playing field and the unfair advantage that insurance companies hold over claimants.
Contact a St. Joseph insurance bad faith attorney at the firm for dedicated legal representation in any insurance claim problem or dispute today.