Insurance isn’t cheap. The average automobile insurance premium is nearly $2,000 per year in California. Home insurance premiums average $1,000 per year. Health insurance costs nearly $5,000 per year. Purchasing insurance is the smart thing to do. In the case of automobile and homeowner’s insurance, it is also required by law. So you pay the premiums, and gain some peace of mind knowing that if you should become ill or get in an accident, at least your medical bills and property damage will be covered.
Unfortunately, that’s not what happens in every case. The insurance industry is very lucrative, and it didn’t get that way because companies are in the habit of paying out fair settlements. Even if you’re a long-term policy holder who’s paid the premium every month on time without fail, your insurance company may fight over every nickel and dime rather than pay the compensation required by your contract. When an insurance company refuses to honor its contract, the company is legally acting in “bad faith.”
The concept of bad faith is important for insurance policy holders because it permits them to sue the insurance company not only for the benefits that have been delayed or denied, but also for the damages caused by the delay or denial of those benefits. If the insurance company loses in court, it may have to pay out substantially more money than it would have, had it honored the contract in the first place. If you believe your insurance company is acting in bad faith, please call the experienced Sacramento insurance bad faith attorneys at Demas Law Group, P.C.
Examples Of Insurance Bad Faith
- No matter what type of insurance you have – auto, life, health, disability, homeowners, etc. – if you are eligible for coverage and the insurer fails to honor the policy, then the company is acting in bad faith. This applies to you, your property and anyone else who may be covered by the insurance policy. The compensation paid by the policy must be fair and it must be paid in a timely manner.
- If your home is damaged by fire and your homeowner’s insurance policy covers fire damage, the insurance company is acting in bad faith if they don’t honor the contract. Often this occurs when insurance companies attempt to “lowball” policy holders by offering a quick settlement that isn’t enough to cover the actual damage to your home.
- If you get hit by an uninsured driver, and your policy has uninsured driver coverage, the insurance company must honor the policy by paying you fair compensation for your injuries and property damage, or the company is acting in bad faith. Again, it’s very common for insurers to lowball policy holders in such situations. Lowballing can be a form of bad faith.
- Sometimes, insurance companies just outright refuse to pay. For example, a life insurance policy may renege on paying compensation after the death of a loved one by claiming a health condition wasn’t reported. Insurance companies will thoroughly investigate policy holders in order to find any discrepancy that can be construed to deny benefits. If you think your insurance company is acting in bad faith, you need one of the experienced Sacramento insurance bad faith attorneys at Demas Law Group, P.C., on your side.
Put Bad Faith Insurance Lawyers at Demas Law Group, P.C., On Your Team
For more than 20 years, Demas Law Group, P.C., has helped Sacramento insurance policy holders win fair settlements from insurance companies acting in bad faith. Those settlements often include financial awards for any pain and suffering caused by the delay or denial of benefits. When you put Demas Law Group, P.C., on your team, the insurance company will know you mean business. Often, insurance companies will settle rather than pay a substantially higher amount, including the cost of an expensive legal proceeding.
When an insurance company fails to honor its agreement, you feel betrayed. Our experienced attorneys can help restore your trust. Every case is different and we can’t predict the results of your case in advance. But we give our full focus to each and every client.
If your insurance company is acting in bad faith, please contact us as soon as possible. You can speak to one of our experienced insurance bad faith attorneys free of charge or obligation, by telephone or at a face-to-face meeting. Demas Law Group, P.C.’s Sacramento attorneys are hired on a contingency basis, which means you will not be billed for attorney fees and court costs until a settlement or a winning verdict is reached. If a settlement or winning verdict is not reached, there are no fees or court costs.
This literature may be considered attorney advertising or an offer of professional services, according to rule 1-400 Rules of Professional Conduct by the State Bar of California. The information does not constitute a guarantee, warranty or prediction regarding the outcome of your potential legal matter.
Demas Law Group, P.C. – Sacramento Personal Injury Attorney
