Los Angeles Insurance Bad Faith Attorney
Insurance Claim Denied? Call 213-489-1600
When your insurance company wrongfully denies your insurance claim, this is called “bad faith.” “Insurance bad faith” is a violation of the “implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing.” Your insurance policy is a written agreement – a contract – between you and the insurance company. When the insurance company breaches its agreement and duty to the insured, the insured can sue the insurance company.
Why Choose Our Insurance Bad Faith Lawyers?
- 40+ Years of Representing California Policyholders
- Top-Rated Ethical Standards and Legal Skill (AV Preeminent® Rating)
- Free Consultation to Discuss Your Legal Options
- Successful Results Against Even the Biggest Insurance Companies
Ready to fight back against insurance bad faith? Call 213-489-1600 today.
Common Types of Insurance Bad Faith
In healthcare bad faith claims, this failed duty may come in the form of unreasonably delaying payment of a claim, refusing to authorize treatment that should be covered by your policy, or denying your claim without justification. Winning your claim can result in economic and noneconomic damages. Economic damages can be the cost of the medical services denied, lost wages, and attorneys’ fees. Noneconomic damages can be pain and suffering, emotional distress and punitive damages for the insurance company’s misconduct.
Examples of bad faith include:
- Underpayment of claims
- Denying a claim for profit
- Failure to pay claims
- Delaying payment of claims
- Lack of claim investigation
- Canceling claims
Insurance companies commit wrongful acts because it is beneficial to them, and they prey upon unsuspecting individuals who do not understand their rights. The State of California continually fines insurance companies regularly for wrongful acts and committing violations of California insurance law.
Know Your Rights As a Policy Holder
Many policyholders do not adequately read through their policy, typically called Evidence of Coverage (EOC), which is provided to them when they first sign up for insurance. These policies are written by insurance company lawyers and most people cannot understand or decipher the EOC. Insurance companies know that these documents are confusing.
Once an insurance company enters into a contract with a policyholder, they must do the following:
- Provide the coverage that is detailed in the contract
- Act in good faith
Violating the rights of the insured is clearly illegal, and a qualified insurance attorney from Gianelli & Morris can help you seek justice for your case. If you enter into an insurance bad faith lawsuit and your claim is proven, you may be entitled to significant damages and attorney fees.
What Constitutes Insurance Bad Faith?
Simply put, an insurance company has a duty to act in good faith. This means that they must not evade their obligations to investigate the claim you filed or pay you the compensation you deserve. If they attempt to escape from these responsibilities, it will likely be classified as bad faith.
Some of the reasons that an insurance company can get sued for bad faith include:
- Unwarranted denial of your coverage
- Failure to respond in a timely manner
- Failure to come to a fair and reasonable settlement
- Failure to confirm or deny coverage within a reasonable timeframe
Our Los Angeles Insurance Attorneys Can Help
Do not let another day pass without seeking legal help from an insurance lawyer. Bad faith is a complicated area of the law. Proving insurance bad faith can be very difficult, which is why you need an assertive legal advocate in your corner.
At Gianelli & Morris, we have represented policyholders since 1979. We have recovered Hundreds of Millions of Dollars. We have extensive experience holding insurance companies accountable for their actions. We offer a free consultation and assist you in determining if you have a valid bad faith case and advise you on how to proceed. We go up against the largest insurance companies to fight on your behalf.
If you are not receiving money owed to you or are being denied medical services, call one of our attorneys at Gianelli & Morris today!
