Whenever you attempt to get a payout of the benefits from an insurance policy, you’re likely to receive at least some pushback against what you’re asking for. This is because insurance agents have the job of verifying your claim and making sure that the company doesn’t award more than it should to the policyholder.
At the same time, these agents should be moving your case forward appropriately. If they are not, then they may be acting in bad faith.
What are some signs that the insurance company is not fairly negotiating?
Of course, insurance companies want to save money. However, they do have contracts with their policyholders and should pay out appropriately. Some signs of negotiating in bad faith may include:
- Telling you that you don’t need to have an attorney when speaking with them or negotiating a settlement
- Pressuring you to settle for an unreasonable amount based on the damages you are claiming
- Misrepresenting facts about your policy to try to reduce how much they’ll pay in a settlement
- Unreasonably denying parts of, or all of, your claim
It is important to recognize that not everyone you speak to is going to have your best interests at heart, even though you may deserve the benefits you’ve paid for through carrying your insurance policy.
What can you do if you suspect that the insurance company is acting in bad faith?
If you are worried that the insurance company is acting in bad faith and has no intention of settling for a fair amount, it is worth going over the case with your attorney to discuss your options. At a minimum, the actions of the insurance company may be disrespectful or unethical, but at worst, they may be outright illegal.
You have an insurance policy so that you may make a claim when you need to. If you’re being told that you can’t make a claim or that your claim isn’t as valuable as you believe it should be, then you should look further into the case before you decide if you’ll accept the insurance company’s decision on what to pay out.