It’s easy to feel helpless when the insurance company isn’t holding up its end of the bargain, but you have options. Partner with a Palmdale bad faith insurance attorney.
In exchange for your monthly or annual premiums, it’s reasonable for you to expect an insurance company to act in good faith by honoring any legitimate claims you file. Unfortunately, every industry has its bad apples, which explains why policyholders sometimes get the short end of the stick.
Fortunately, in the event of an insurer acting in bad faith, California law allows victims to obtain the compensation to which they were initially entitled. To see what compensation you may be eligible to receive, contact a Palmdale bad faith insurance lawyer at Haffner Law today.
What Is Insurance Bad Faith?
Insurance bad faith can encompass any number of actions, or lack thereof, that demonstrate an insurer’s failure to perform its expected duties.
Examples include the following:
- A firm that fails to fully and quickly investigate a policyholder’s claims, jeopardizing his or her ability to receive adequate compensation
- Declining to pay out the claim, in part or in full, of a policyholder whose complaints have been validated
- Leaving a policyholder susceptible to legal action from other claimants (also known as the duty to defend)
- Refusing to offer a reasonable settlement, contrary to the policyholder’s best interests (e.g., the insurer believing it may be able to completely negate its own responsibility)
It should be noted that insurance bad faith can also occur with someone else’s insurer, should that company attempt to unreasonably block or negate your claim. However, there is usually a much higher legal standard to clear when suing a third-party insurer.
This area of the law can become complicated quickly, but with the help of a qualified bad faith insurance lawyer in Palmdale, you won’t have to worry about the complexities of your case.
Bad Faith Damages in California
Damages in a Palmdale bad faith insurance case will generally include any compensation you initially sought, statutory interest, and, in some cases, punitive damages.
Punitive damages, which are meant to punish the defendant for egregious conduct, have the potential to increase your ultimate award significantly. The legal standard that must be reached for punitive damages to be awarded is “clear and convincing evidence that the defendant has been guilty of oppression, fraud, or malice,” according to California law.
California courts have set the precedent that the total amount of punitive damages awarded shouldn’t exceed ten times all other forms of damages.
Lastly, whether you were blocked outright from receiving compensation or simply dissuaded from accepting it, you will ultimately need to provide substantial proof that your insurer was acting in bad faith.
Team Up with a Palmdale Bad Faith Insurance Attorney
When you’re in dire straits, it’s critical for the parties you most depend on to follow through. Sadly, as some insurance claimants have learned, past promises don’t always translate to tangible action.
Whatever the circumstances of your case, we can help ensure that your insurance company keeps up its end of the bargain in the case of an accident, as we’ve done with numerous past clients.
To work with one of our proven attorneys, contact a Palmdale bad faith insurance lawyer at Haffner Law today. Give us a call at 1-844-HAFFNER (423-3637) or complete the online contact form at the bottom of this page.
