Has an insurance company in Chicago, IL denied your claim for unjust reasons after a car accident or some other type of accident? Insurance companies are required to review and settle claims in good faith, and they might owe you additional damages if they don’t follow the law. However, winning a bad faith claim against them won’t be easy.
You will need an experienced legal team like the one at Powell and Pisman Injury Lawyers. We know what it takes to prove and win bad faith insurance claims. After all, we have 35 years of combined experience and have secured 75 settlements and verdicts of at least $1 million each.
If an insurance company has denied your claim, call us today to schedule a free consultation at (312) 635-5400 with a Chicago bad faith insurance lawyer.
How Powell and Pisman Can Help With a Bad Faith Insurance Claim in Chicago
If you believe you may be the victim of bad faith insurance practices in Chicago, Illinois, Powell and Pisman is here to help. We understand that challenging the insurance company can be intimidating, but we have the experience and resources to go toe-to-toe with them and demand the compensation you are owed.
Some ways our Chicago bad faith insurance attorneys can help you include:
- Reviewing your original insurance claim to understand all the details
- Assessing all the insurance policies and contracts related to your claim
- Proving that the insurance adjuster’s actions were in bad faith
- Putting a proper value on any additional damages beyond your original claim to which you may be entitled
- Negotiating a full and fair settlement that compensates you for your damages and punishes the insurance company for its misconduct
- Filing a bad-faith lawsuit and going to court when a settlement cannot be reached
Know that you do not have to stand by and allow the insurance company to take advantage of you. You have a legal right to a fair and honest review and evaluation of your claim.
Our Chicago personal injury lawyers have the resources and experience to counter the insurance company’s tactics. Members of our legal team have been recognized by Super Lawyers, The National Trial Lawyers, and the American Association for Justice.
Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.
How Common Are Bad Faith Insurance Practices?
When you file an insurance claim, you probably expect the insurance company to do the right thing. Unfortunately, that is not always what happens. Insurance companies will do whatever it takes to protect their bottom line, and this means that bad faith practices are more prevalent than many people realize.
While it is difficult to pin down just how many bad faith claims are filed each year, recent data suggests that the number of bad faith claims is growing. If you believe you may be the victim of bad faith practices, do not hesitate to contact us and get help today.
Overview of Bad Faith Insurance Claims
Insurance claims are denied every day, and most of the time, there is a valid reason for the denial. A valid denial of your claim does not constitute bad faith. However, your insurance policy is a contract, and there is an implied requirement that the insurance company act in good faith when processing claims.
This means that they must honestly and fairly review and investigate all submitted claims based on the available information.
What Are Common Examples of Bad Faith Practices?
When an insurance company fails to uphold its end of the deal, a bad faith claim may be present. In fact, Illinois law describes many types of behavior that qualify as bad faith practices.
Some common examples include:
- Misrepresenting coverage details to a claimant or to the insured
- Failing to respond to communications in a timely manner
- Denying the claim without any investigation or a valid reason
- Intentionally delaying the processing or payment of a claim
- Failing to provide the proper claims forms to a claimant
- Changing the terms of a policy after a claim has been submitted
If the insurance company has engaged in any of these practices, you should reach out to an attorney immediately.
What Kinds of Damages Can I Recover From a Bad Faith Claim?
When this type of behavior harms a victim of bad faith practices, they may be entitled to recover several types of damages. First, they are entitled to recover all valid damages under the original claim. This includes both economic damages and non-economic damages that were included in that claim.
Next, victims may also be entitled to recover punitive damages from the insurance company. Punitive damages are not designed to compensate victims for a specific loss. Instead, they are used to punish the insurance company for its behavior. Illinois does not place a cap on punitive damages, although they cannot be excessive or disproportionate to the wrong that was done.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit for a Bad Faith Claim in Illinois?
There is a limited amount of time to file a lawsuit for bad faith claims. Since most of these claims are considered contract issues, Illinois allows ten years to file a lawsuit for damages. Since the details of each case can vary, it is important to always seek help from an experienced lawyer. Missing the deadline can make you lose your chance to recover any compensation from the insurance company.
Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Chicago Bad Faith Insurance Lawyers
If you are dealing with an insurance company that is acting in bad faith, the experienced team at Powell and Pisman is here for you. Let us put our experience to work for you and help you get the compensation you are owed. You should not have to deal with an insurance company that is acting unfairly, and we can help you through this situation.
Call us now to schedule your free consultation with a Chicago bad faith insurance attorney.