Questions about Insurance Bad Faith

Serving West Virginia and Ohio, including Parkersburg, Charleston, Morgantown, Huntington, Wheeling, Belpre, and Athens

What is insurance bad faith?

Insurance bad faith occurs when insurance companies do not uphold the terms of an insurance agreement. Examples include:

• Unreasonable denial of an insurance claim
• Unreasonable delay in paying an insurance claim
• Unreasonable failure to defend a policyholder who has been sued under a policy containing a liability provision
• Unreasonably attempting to underpay the value of a claim

What are my rights under my insurance policy?

An insurance policy is a contract. In return for your premium, the insurance company promises to provide benefits in the event of an incident covered under the terms of the policy. If your insurance company does not provide the benefits specified by the policy, they have violated the contract and are guilty of insurance bad faith. They can be held liable for these benefits in court.

What should I do if my insurance company denies my claim or delays in paying my claim?

It is important to consult an experienced bad faith insurance lawyer immediately. The attorneys at Jan Dils & Jim Leach, Attorneys at Law have been standing up to dishonest insurance companies for years. We are aware of all of the laws governing bad faith insurance claims in Ohio and West Virginia, and we will make sure your insurance company provides you the benefits to which you are entitled.

What damages can I recover in a bad faith insurance claim?

Damages awarded in bad faith insurance claims include:

• Benefits owed under the policy
• Consequential losses suffered due to the claim denial

How can I avoid having my insurance claim denied?

In order to ensure your insurance company does not unfairly deny your claim, you should take the following actions:

• Inform the insurance company of the claim immediately
• Review the policy to identify the specifics of your coverage related to the loss you are claiming
• Document all telephone calls with your insurance agent
• Keep detailed records related to the claim, especially if there are questions about your coverage
• Submit the claim promptly

If after taking all of these steps, your insurance company still tries to deny your claim, consult an experienced bad faith insurance attorney immediately.

Please contact our West Virginia and Ohio bad faith insurance lawyers today to schedule your free initial consultation.

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