Suing Your Insurance Company for Bad Faith: What You Can Expect
When you sign up for a home insurance policy, both you and your insurance provider are making a binding promise. While you promise to make your insurance payments as agreed, the insurance company promises to pay out for valid claims under your policy. If an insurance company fails to hold up its part of the bargain, it’s acting in bad faith.
If you think your claim has been wrongfully delayed or denied, suing your insurance company for bad faith may be your best option. Keep reading to learn more about what you can expect from a McAllen bad faith insurance lawyer.
What Happens Before You Sue?
Before you actually take the big step of suing your insurance company for bad faith, there are a few steps you’ll want to take first. First, it’s important to note that you can file an internal appeal with your insurance company to try to change the judgment on a claim. Insurance adjusters make mistakes just like the rest of us, and an appeal may be able to rectify any problems.
Next, if your appeal is ineffective, you’ll want to file a complaint against your insurance company with the state. If you feel you’re being treated unfairly by your insurance company, you can file a complaint with the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) which will then contact the insurance company on your behalf. If the TDI finds that the company acted improperly, not only could you get the settlement you deserve, but the company could face penalties.
Suing Your Insurance Company for Bad Faith
If your internal appeal was unsuccessful, it’s a good idea to go ahead and contact an experienced insurance lawyer like those on the team here at Millin & Millin. Your lawyer can help you determine both if your insurance company acted in bad faith and what to do in case it has. If the evidence suggests that your insurance company did act improperly, you may need to sue your insurance company to get the payment you deserve.
The lawsuit you file against your insurance company will either be for their failure to uphold their part of the contract you signed when you got your policy or for bad faith tactics.
How Long Will It Take To Get a Settlement?
Unfortunately, suing your insurance company for bad faith isn’t a very speedy process. Complex cases may take up to two or three years to complete, though most settlements are reached in about a year. If a settlement can’t be reached, or if your insurance company declines to negotiate a settlement, you may need to take your case to court to fight for whatever you’re owed.
Get Help From a Bad Faith Insurance Lawyer
Whether your claim was wrongfully denied, delayed, or underpaid, a bad faith insurance attorney can help you find the right path forward to get financial relief. If you feel your insurance company is acting in bad faith, you don’t have to face them on your own. Your bad faith insurance attorney can help you stand up to any fancy legal teams your insurance company may have.
Insurance companies have a lot more resources than the average person, and that makes any legal action against an insurance company a real challenge for the individual. Don’t wait to get help with your case. Reach out to the experienced, compassionate McAllen bad faith insurance lawyers here at Millin & Millin for help with your case.