Insurance companies have an obligation to act in good faith for their clients. An insurance policy is a contract for services between the insured and the insurance company. If your insurance company withholds your insurance policy benefits without reason, or in any other way does not act reasonably under the provisions of your policy, it may be considered to be acting in bad faith. Any insurance company, when presented with a claim, has a duty to conduct a thorough investigation. They must give consideration to their clients needs and financial interest, and cannot simply look for excuses and reasons to deny a claim. Not every insurance claim denial constitutes bad faith on the part of an insurance provider. If your claim is not covered under the policy, the insurance company can deny the claim without acting in bad faith. If you suspect your insurance company may be acting in bad faith, please contact Johnson, Scruggs & Barfield. We will review your situation, your insurance policy, and help you determine whether or not you may have a claim for bad faith. We will review your policy and pinpoint the relevant provisions as they relate to your claim. Our attorneys are experienced in handling insurance bad faith cases and can help you get the best result for your case.

Claim denial is not the only way an insurance provider can act in bad faith. Other examples of bad faith include:

• Delaying payment of claims

Discounting payment of claims
Failing to investigate a claim
Unreasonably interpreting insurance policy language
Refusing to settle a claim.

If a company denies a claim or offers a payment of less than the claim is worth without justification, there may be a breach of contract between the insurance company and the insured. When dealing with your insurance company, keep detailed notes of all contacts, including the name of the representative you spoke to, the nature of the conversation, and the date and time. This information may be helpful to your case. Because there are time limits on when you can object to the denial of a claim, it is important to contact one of our attorneys as soon as possible.

Act Promptly
There are time limits for you to act, called statutes of limitations, which require you to bring a lawsuit within a limited period or risk losing the right to seek a recovery. If you have any question, you should contact us by either clicking here for e-mail or call us at 615-352-8326 and ask for Patrick Johnson.

Insurance Claims: Bad Faith Denial