Insurance companies are a business, and as such, are always looking to make money. Insurance claims take away from their profits and so companies will take any opportunity to avoid paying out, even if that means acting in bad faith.
While bad faith insurance tactics can make you feel like you’re out of options, you do have some recourse. With the help of the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) and a bad faith insurance attorney, you can recover the compensation you deserve.
The team at Millin and Millin explains when you should seek out the support of the Texas Dept. of Insurance and how filing a complaint with them can help you.
While many insurance claims are resolved quickly, that isn’t always the case. If you feel like you’re being treated unfairly, a TDI complaint can help. The Texas Dept. of Insurance will contact the insurance company, which may help you get the company to negotiate fairly with you.
If your complaint is determined to be valid, there will be consequences for your insurance company. They can face fines or even lose their insurer’s license.
TDI complaints help you fight back against bad faith tactics used by insurance companies. Here are a few common bad-faith tactics:
Once you make a complaint, the process can take between 60-90 days. During that time, the TDI will look over the evidence you sent along with your complaint. They will check the laws and your policy to see whether you have a case.
The next steps are all on the insurance company. The Texas Department of Insurance will contact the company and give them 25 days to respond.
Most of the time, the legal department of your insurance company will either handle the issue or pass it to a higher-up. Either way, you should see a resolution.
However, this isn’t always the case. Some insurance companies will choose to ignore the complaint even if they risk fines. Unfortunately, Texas laws leave a lot of room for an insurance company to act in bad faith without breaking the law.
The Texas Department of Insurance can only really punish insurance companies when they break the law. In these scenarios, you will need the support of a bad faith insurance attorney to deal with the insurance company.
Sometimes insurance complaints in Texas won’t get you the results you need. There are plenty of edge cases where the insurance is acting in bad faith but the law hasn’t been broken. If you find yourself dealing with the following circumstances, it’s time to hire a bad faith insurance attorney:
The experienced bad faith insurance attorneys at Millin and Millin can help you meet the insurance company on equal footing. We can help you fight back against unfair treatment or breach of contract to get the compensation you deserve.
Contact us for a free case review and learn how we can serve you!
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Was your home insurance claim denied? You aren’t alone.
Home insurance companies are always looking for a reason NOT to pay out to their customers. This means even a minor error in the claims process can result in a claim denial. Mind you, insurance companies may still deny your claim even if it is 100% valid, which is known as a bad faith insurance denial.
If you’ve received an insurance claim denial, there are some common reasons why. The bad faith insurance attorneys at Millin and Millin are here to explain some of the factors that can put your claim at risk.
Lapsed coverage is one of the most common reasons why insurance claims are denied. If you haven't paid your monthly premium and attempted to make a claim, your insurer will consider your coverage to have lapsed.
Even if you pay immediately after the claim is made, you may still not be covered.
Reduce your risk of lapsed coverage with automatic payments or by setting a reminder to pay your premium on time.
Unfortunately, there are plenty of events or incidents that just are not covered under a typical home insurance policy. For instance, flooding is often an additional rider that is not covered by your typical home coverage.
Make sure you are aware of what types of events are and are NOT covered so you can better protect yourself.
A vague reason or unusually high cost on your claim can put you at risk for a denial. Your insurer may also deny your claim if they suspect you are lying, in which case, your claim will be listed as denial for fraud.
You may also see negligence listed on your denial claim if the insurer feels that you could have reasonably prevented the cause of your claim.
Reduce your risk of this type of denial by taking a thorough look around your property for potential problems and correcting them.
Another risk factor for home insurance claim denial is when the insurance company notes that the damage your property suffered was a result of normal wear and tear.
For instance, they may maintain that your damaged siding isn’t because of hail but because you haven't maintained it. Make sure you keep any proof of maintenance you've done and have a bad faith insurance attorney in your corner if they still deny you.
Your home insurance claim will be denied if the claim itself is incomplete. If you leave out critical information or fail to properly complete all documentation, this will increase the likelihood of having your claim denied. Even forgetting one receipt for repairs can lead to a denial.
Make sure you include absolutely everything related to your claim when submitting it and be aware that large losses typically require more proof.
If you want to reduce the risk of an incomplete claim, you can consult with a professional or hire an attorney to help you navigate the process.
A bad faith insurance denial can cause massive financial losses. After all, you paid for the insurance so you wouldn't be in this situation in the first place. While you can pursue the claims process on your own, having a bad faith insurance attorney in your corner can help you get the money you are owed.
Millin and Millin have years of experience in bad faith insurance denials and we will fight to get you the results you deserve. Don't wait, contact us to see how we can help you.
