Before filing a claim for bad faith against your insurer, you must prove that you’ve done everything you can to work your issues out with the insurance company before turning to litigation. It’s crucial to retain records of any phone conversations, emails, and other correspondence. There demonstrate that you made a good faith effort to resolve your issues with the insurance company.
Before filing a bad faith claim:
- Take the time to review your insurance policy, which is actually a contract between you and your insurance company. By doing this, you can find out if the contract covers what you want. Be sure to read the fine print. Sometimes there are exemptions or exceptions that you weren’t previously aware of. If you don’t have a copy of your insurance policy, the insurance carrier can provide you with one. You might even find a digital copy in your account that you can access online. Your lawyer can do all of this for you.
- Keep a paper trail. Log of all of your communications with the insurance company after filing a claim. Starting from your initial contact with the insurer to report your loss, take notes about whom you spoke with, the date, and the subject and specifics of the discussion. Maintain a file of any documents you sent to the insurance company, such as photos, receipts, estimates, or other evidence, as well as any documents they sent you.
- File an appeal. If you received a claim denial notice, you have the right to ask that a supervisor assess it. Insurance adjusters follow strict rules and procedures to make a settlement offer or denial. Having your claim reviewed by someone higher up can make a difference.
- Hire a Duluth insurance claims attorney. Attorneys are well-versed in what is insurance bad faith and what isn’t. Sometimes, you don’t need to file a bad-faith lawsuit if you get your lawyer involved.
Hiring the right Duluth insurance claims lawyer is possibly the most important step toward receiving the full settlement you deserve for sustained injuries, damage, and losses. Contact Brauns Law Accident Injury Lawyers, PC today.
