Bad Faith Insurance Lawyers Fort Lauderdale
Bad Faith Insurance and Denied Policy Claims Lawyers Serving Clients Throughout Florida
Negotiating with the insurance company can be frustrating even when all parties are acting in good faith—if you are filing an insurance claim, you have already suffered some type of personal injury or property damage, and need the insurance money to move forward with your life. That frustration is magnified exponentially when you begin to feel that the insurance company is not handling your case fairly, or denies your claim for no apparent reason. The experienced Bad Faith Insurance Lawyers in Fort Lauderdale of Lawlor, White & Murphey are here to make sure you get the compensation to which you are justly entitled if you have been the victim of bad faith insurance in Florida.
When an insurance claim is filed by a policyholder, there is an expected level of “good faith” that the insurance company will be fair and reasonable when handling that claim. If the insurance company has refused to process your insurance claim fairly, and without any stated rationale or apparent reason, you may have a claim for “insurance bad faith.” Insurance bad faith is defined as unfair, dishonest or unreasonable conduct by an insurance company, and if you are the victim of insurance bad faith, you may be entitled to file a civil suit for compensatory damages against the insurance company.
Skilled Bad Faith Insurance Lawyers in Fort Lauderdale Fight for Compensation in Bad Faith Insurance Cases Throughout South Florida
At Lawlor, White & Murphey we are serious about fighting to hold insurance companies accountable for paying the benefits for which you have already paid the insurance company by maintaining your policy in good standing. Primary examples of insurance bad faith include:
- Failure to promptly or thoroughly investigate a claim
- Unwillingness or outright refusal to settle a claim in a timely manner
- Unreasonable denial of payment under a policy
- Unreasonable attempt to under-settle or ‘lowball’ the payment amount on a claim
- Unreasonable and unjustified postponement of settlement payments
- Failure to communicate appropriately about a claim that has been filed
- Deceptive insurance practices
- Threats made by the insurance companies
- Making false or misleading statements to insurance policyholders, including misstatements about what the policy at issue covers
- Illegal dealing in premiums
- Non-renewal or termination of the insurance policy after a claim has been filed
- Refusal to issue an insurance policy on discriminatory grounds
Bad faith insurance cases can be complicated, and many policyholders may not even know where to begin in fighting for their right to be fairly compensated by their own insurance carrier. Our skilled bad faith insurance lawyers are here to help. We handle all types of bad faith insurance claims, including claims related to:
- Homeowner’s insurance
- Car insurance
- Life insurance
- Disability insurance
- Property and casualty insurance
- Rental insurance
- General liability insurance
- Health insurance
Florida Law Imposes Protections Against Unfair Insurance Practices
Insurance companies are required by law to treat their customers fairly. Fair treatment includes payment of claims that are rightfully due to an insured who has paid all policy premiums and properly submitted the claim. In 1982, the State of Florida enacted the Florida Unfair Claims Practices Act (UFCA) to protect consumers from insurance companies that do not make good faith efforts to settle claims. Bad faith insurance regulation arose because, in the past, insurance companies have mistreated their clients and refused to pay for legitimate claims. In general, insurance companies may deny a claim for coverage if:
- The claim was fraudulent,
- The policyholder somehow violated the terms of the policy, such as by making false statements on the application or failing to pay required premiums,
- The loss claimed is not actually covered under the terms of the insurance policy.
While insurance adjusters often come across as caring, they are often quite the opposite—and are actually financially motivated to limit the financial liability of the insurance company. Often, insurance companies fight legitimate claims, hoping that the policyholder will give up and accept less than is actually owed under their policy. When the policyholder pursues the claim in court, insurance companies typically hire teams of expensive defense attorneys to protect their actions, adding to the intimidation that many policyholders feel when facing the prospect of a long and protracted fight with the insurance company.
Experienced Bad Faith Insurance Lawyers at Lawlor, White & Murphey Never Back Down From Insurance Company Tactics
Our insurance bad faith lawyers have the resources and experience to go toe-to-toe with the insurance companies. We relish insurance bad faith cases and truly enjoy helping those in need. We have earned a strong reputation for fighting the insurance companies and understand the tactics that insurance companies often employ to avoid paying full and fair compensation to their own policyholders. Once our lawyers get involved in a bad faith insurance case, many insurance companies simply decide to settle the claim—and fairly—without going to court. At Lawlor, White & Murphey, we can help you resolve the issue successfully, and are here to help by:
- Explaining your rights under your insurance policy
- Making sure your insurance claim is filed properly and in a timely manner
- Communicating with the insurance company regarding your claim
- Requesting declaratory judgments from the court in order to settle your bad faith insurance claim as efficiently as possible
- Fighting for your right to full recovery under your insurance policy in court
We take bad faith insurance claims seriously and are passionate about holding insurance companies accountable when they make clients jump through unnecessary hoops in order to receive the insurance compensation for which they have paid.
Schedule a Free Initial Consultation with Our Dedicated Team of Bad Faith Insurance Lawyers in Fort Lauderdale Today
If you believe that your insurer is no longer following the terms and conditions specified in your insurance contract, it may be in your best interest to pursue a bad faith insurance claim. Contact Lawlor, White & Murphey by filling out this online contact form today. Our initial consultations are always free, and we will provide you with our honest and straightforward opinions regarding available options in your case. Our attorneys work on a contingency basis, which means that we are not paid until you receive compensation in your case.
