Insurance premiums can be expensive, especially if you have prior speeding tickets or accidents. When you pay your insurance premiums, you expect your insurance company to do the right thing and payout when you make a claim. However, insurance companies answer to their shareholders and nobody else. They will do anything they can to deny a claim to protect their company’s bottom line. If an insurance company has denied a claim but should have paid up, they might be acting in bad faith and the insurance carriers should be held accountable for their actions. A Watertown insurance bad faith lawyer from Turbak Law Office, P.C. can help.
Our client testimonials and case results show how we have been fighting insurance companies for acting in bad faith against policyholders for over 40 years. Our Watertown insurance bad faith lawyers know the tactics they use to deny claims and understand when they have violated your rights as an insurance policyholder.
If your insurance company wrongfully denied your claim, contact us online or call our personal injury lawyers at 605-886-8361 to schedule an appointment. Our Watertown bad faith insurance lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, so you don’t pay anything unless we win your case.
What Types of Claims Do Insurance Companies Deny?
Insurance companies will do all they can to deny any claim. Some of the more common types of denied insurance claims bad faith insurance attorneys see are:
- Health Insurance – Health insurance companies will deny a claim for medical benefits for many reasons. They make you foot the bill for costly medical expenses when you most need them. Insurance companies should not deny you the benefits you’ve paid for as a policyholder.
- Auto Insurance – When cars get into accidents, insurance companies may deny a claim because they say you were at fault. Maybe they won’t pay the total amount, claiming that you were partially at fault. Insurance companies may deny medical payments under your insurance policy because they determine that certain medical treatments are unnecessary.
- Homeowners Insurance – If you have damage to your home for any reason, like a flood or fire, insurance companies could deny payment, claiming that you were at fault for the damage. Your home is supposed to be a sanctuary, and your insurance company is supposed to protect you.
- Life Insurance – When a loved one dies and you need the money through their life insurance policy, the insurance company may act in bad faith by denying the payout. A bad faith insurance lawyer can to fight for your rights to the benefits your loved one’s premiums purchased.
- Disability Insurance – If you were injured at work and need disability benefits, your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance company may deny your benefits for various reasons, like claiming that you are not considered an employee or that your injury did not occur while on the job.
What Are the Reasons Insurance Companies Deny Insurance Claims?
Insurance companies will deny claims for various reasons. Some denials are legitimate, but others are made in bad faith. Some of the more common reasons bad faith insurance attorneys see for denying an insurance claim are:
- Non-Payment – Your insurance company may claim you did not pay your premium, and so they will deny your claim.
- Fraud or Misrepresentations – Insurance companies may claim you gave them false information on the policy application. An example would be not listing a pre-existing health condition.
- Exclusions in the Policy – Every policy is unique, and yours may contain an exclusion for certain types of claims. The insurer may deny a claim because your injury or accident fell under the exclusion in your policy.
- Missed a Deadline – Your insurance company may claim that you took too long to file a claim. Your insurance policy usually has time limitations for filing a claim with them, and if you miss the deadline, your claim may legally be denied. A bad faith insurance lawyer is especially helpful here because they are knowledgeable about statutes and deadlines.
- Negligence – Your insurance company may claim that any damage to your property or car resulted from your negligence and deny your claim on that basis.
Examples of Insurance Companies Acting in Bad Faith
Insurance companies do not want to lose money, so they sometimes deny a claim in bad faith, hoping you will accept their decision and move on. Some familiar bad faith tactics insurance companies use are:
- No Investigation – You may have a bad faith claim if your insurance did not perform a thorough investigation of the damage to your property or the accident that caused your injuries. A bad faith insurance insurance lawyer can conduct their own investigation for your
- Ignoring Your Calls – If your insurance company refuses to take your calls or does not call you or your attorney back and then denies your claim, you may have a case of bad faith.
- No Explanation – Your insurance company must provide a reason for denying your claim. You may have a bad faith claim against them if they provide no explanation.
- Not Negotiating – Many insurance claims lead to a settlement between the parties. If your insurance company refuses to negotiate or uses low-ball tactics for a settlement, you could have a bad faith claim.
Why You Need an Experienced Watertown Bad Faith Insurance Lawyer
Dealing with bad faith insurance cases and companies can be highly stressful, especially if they are trying to deny a claim. You shouldn’t have to deal with them while trying to recover from your injuries or repairing your damaged property. A knowledgeable Watertown bad faith insurance lawyer will:
- Examine Your Policy – Insurance lawyers know how to read and interpret insurance policies and will analyze your policy to ascertain whether the claim denial was in bad faith.
- Know the Law – An experienced bad faith insurance lawyer in Watertown knows the law surrounding bad faith and how the courts determine bad faith claims in South Dakota.
- Speak to the Insurance Company – Your lawyer will discuss your bad faith claim with the insurance company and their lawyers. They know why insurance companies deny claims in bad faith and will negotiate with them to try to reach a fair settlement.
- Take Your Case to Court – If your insurance company refuses to settle and still denies your claim, your Watertown insurance bad faith lawyer will file a bad faith lawsuit against them in a South Dakota court to demand the full amount of compensation you’re owed.
Insurance companies will try anything to deny a claim. They are in the business to make money and make their shareholders happy. Policyholders need to hold them accountable for their bad-faith actions. Our dedicated and aggressive Watertown bad faith insurance attorneys will fight for your rights against the powerful insurance companies.
Watertown Insurance Bad Faith Frequently Asked Questions
Our bad faith insurance lawyers understand that if you have to file an insurance claim, something bad has happened. Whether you were injured at work or in a car accident, we know you will have specific questions about your case. We know that every case is different, but we have heard many questions over the years, and we’ve provided some answers that we think will help you.
How do I know I have a bad faith claim?
If you think the insurance company denied your claim for false reasons, you may have an insurance bad faith claim. You should speak to one of our bad faith insurance lawyers further about your specific claims.
How long do I have to file a bad faith claim in South Dakota?
You have six years to file an insurance bad faith lawsuit in South Dakota. According to South Dakota law, the insurance company is prohibited from shortening the statute of limitations in policy language. A Watertown insurance bad faith lawyer has the legal knowledge and experience you need to understand the statute of limitations.
Do I need a lawyer for my bad faith claim against the insurance company?
We recommend that you obtain a lawyer Watertown insurance bad faith lawyer for your claim because an experienced lawyer knows the complicated South Dakota Insurance laws and understands the tactics insurance companies use to settle claims for less than they are worth. An experienced insurance bad faith lawyer in Watertown knows how to counter those tactics and what evidence they would need to prevail in court in such a case.
How Do you get paid if I can’t afford an attorney?
Our bad faith insurance attorneys work on a contingency basis. That means we don’t get paid unless you do. We’ll take our fees as an agreed-upon percentage of your compensation – the payout from your insurance claim or lawsuit.
The insurance company contacted me with a settlement offer. What should I do?
You should refer them to your bad faith insurance lawyer. Remember, this is the insurance company that denied your original claim, and they are now trying to make a bad faith claim go away. The settlement offer will be tempting, but it will probably be less than the value of your case.
Our law firm has been in business for 40 years and has built up a stellar reputation in our community. Our Watertown insurance bad faith attorney don’t practice every type of law; we concentrate our practice on personal injury and claims against insurance companies. We know personal injury and insurance law and how to deal with the dreaded insurance companies and attorneys who want to settle claims for less than they are worth.
Contact a Watertown Bad Faith Insurance Lawyer Now
Our law firm are members of the Watertown community and understand our clients’ needs. We have also received many awards, including “Best Law Firms in South Dakota” by the U.S. News & World Report and “Super Lawyers.”
Here at Turbak Law Office, P.C., we genuinely care about the well-being of our clients and fight for their rights to compensation from the moment we take their case. Contact us online or call 605-886-8361 today for a free consultation from an experienced Watertown insurance bad faith lawyer.