After My Car Accident, Is My Insurance Company Being Untrustworthy?

Orlando workers compensation Attorney

You already have enough on your mind after a car accident without wondering if your insurance provider is being untrustworthy. You should consider whether your insurance company is behaving in bad faith when considering whether or not to employ an Orlando workers compensation Attorney and, if so, which attorney would be the best choice to represent you in a car accident case.

There is an implied covenant of good faith and fair conduct in contracts, as in many states. Simply put, this implies that insurance providers in Orlando must be honest and forthright when carrying out their duties to policyholders under the terms of their policies.

Since bad insurance faith is recognised as a tort in this state, policyholders who believe their insurers have acted in bad faith may launch a civil lawsuit against them. Two questions that naturally follow are what it means to act in good faith and what it means to act in bad faith. Okay, let’s talk about trust first.

Good faith is shorthand for sincere interaction. There is no universally accepted definition of “good faith.” Still, in the context of an automobile accident, your insurance company is negotiating in good faith and trying to help you reach a fair settlement. After your car accident, a reputable insurance company will perform the following:

  • Conduct a sufficient inquiry of your allegation.
  • Find and gather any supporting evidence for your argument.
  • Evaluate all documents and other evidence gathered during the investigation fairly and honestly.
  • Evaluate and clarify your auto insurance policy fairly and accurately.
  • Reject or make a settlement offer on your claim only if there are good grounds.

Just because you act in good faith does not guarantee that you will get what you desire or believe you are entitled to. Insurance companies generally want to pay out as little as possible in claims. Not all misunderstandings are malicious. If it’s legal, an insurance company can do whatever it wants. If they have a good reason for offering you a low settlement amount, they should take it.

Is there any repercussions for acting in bad faith? When parties to a contract act in bad faith, they act in a way that undermines their trust and breaks the law. You should read or reread your auto insurance policy to ensure you understand what is covered and verify that you have fulfilled your obligations before accusing your insurer of bad faith.

There is no universally accepted definition of bad faith, but several things to look out for a while negotiating a settlement with your insurance carrier following a car accident.

  • The insurance company either does not look into your claim or takes too long to do so. A claim investigation shouldn’t take your insurance company three months to begin.
  • The insurance company has lied to you about your coverage and other benefits you’re entitled to under the policy.
  • Your insurance company purposely misrepresents the legislation that applies to your claim. Misleading you about the deadline for filing a claim, for instance.
  • Insurance records and information pertinent to your claim are withheld from you despite your reasonable requests for them. Conversely, your insurance provider shouldn’t stress you by asking for unnecessary paperwork.
  • The settlement amount your insurance company is offering is ridiculously small compared to the total value of your claim.
  • Your insurance company either completely refuses to pay your lawful claim, or it takes them far too long to do so.
  • You have a problem when an insurance company either outright rejects a claim or fails to negotiate a fair settlement within a reasonable time or without conducting an investigation.
  • Unreasonable denial of your claim or refusal to negotiate a fair settlement price with your insurer without adequate explanation.
  • You have had trouble getting in touch with or receiving a response from your insurance company.
  • Someone from the insurance business makes you feel unsafe or harasses you.

If you’ve experienced these telltale signs of bad faith, it’s in your best interest to speak with a lawyer as quickly as possible. This is another good time to take advantage of the low-cost or no-cost initial consultations many law firms provide. 

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About the Author: John Edward

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