When the insurer won't deal fairly
Bad faith claims
An insurer owes you more than the money in the policy. It owes you a fair look at the claim, a reason when it says no, and a payment within a reasonable time. When it doesn't do those things, that can be a claim of its own.
A bad faith case asks whether the insurer handled your claim the way the law requires, not just whether it paid enough. I look at the claim file, the timeline and the letters, and tell you plainly whether what happened is a dispute about money or something more.
Signs a claim is being mishandled
One of these alone may be a slow office. Several together are worth a call.
No reason given
A denial that doesn't point to the part of the policy it relies on.
Months of silence
Calls and emails that go unanswered while the damage gets worse.
The same papers, again
Requests for documents you've already sent, over and over.
An offer below its own estimate
A payment that's less than what the insurer's own adjuster wrote down.
No inspection
A claim denied without anyone looking at the property.
Pressure to sign
A release or final settlement pushed on you before you've seen the numbers.
Bad faith questions
What can a bad faith claim recover?
It depends on the facts and the law that applies. It can include the policy benefits owed and, in some cases, more for the harm the handling itself caused. Nothing here promises a result.
Do I need to sue to bring one?
Not always. A clear demand, with the timeline laid out, settles many disputes. Some do end up in court.
Should I keep talking to the adjuster?
Yes, in writing where you can. Keep copies of everything you send and get, and note the date of every call.