New Port Richey Bad Faith Insurance Lawyer
Have you been a victim of bad faith insurance practices in New Port Richey, FL? Your insurance policy is a contract–and insurance companies must act in good faith to settle claims. You may be entitled to hold the insurer liable for damages. An experienced New Port Richey bad faith insurance lawyer can help you fight for the full compensation you deserve.
At Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers, we’ve been fighting to protect clients like you since 1996. We’ve used over 50 years of experience to help our clients recover over $120 million in settlements and verdicts.
We’re here to offer the quality legal advice you need and deserve. Contact our law offices in New Port Richey, Florida, to schedule your free consultation today or call (727) 815-8442.
How Can Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers Help With a Bad Faith Insurance Claim in New Port Richey, FL
You purchase insurance for many different reasons. Some types of insurance are mandatory. Others are meant to provide peace of mind. When the worst happens, you should expect the insurance company to handle your case fairly.
Unfortunately, not all insurance companies act in good faith. Even once you’ve pointed out their failures, they might try to turn the tables on you. Our New Port Richey personal injury attorneys can help you fight for justice.
Our team at Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers is led by a board-certified civil trial lawyer. We’ve been recognized by Super Lawyers and Tampa Bay’s Top Trial Lawyers.
When you hire us, our attorneys will:
- Compile evidence to prove your case
- Bring in experts when needed to prove the insurance company acted without justification
- Calculate the fair value of your claim
- Negotiate with the insurance companies and defense lawyers
Insurance companies don’t want you to hire a lawyer. That’s because our New Port Richy lawyers have the skills to recover a fair settlement. Call us today to learn more.
Overview of the Bad Faith Insurance Laws in New Port Richey, Florida
Under Florida law, you have the right to sue for damages if the insurance company acts in bad faith.
“Bad faith” is defined to include a failure to attempt in good faith to settle claims when, under all the circumstances, the insurance company “could and should have done so, had it acted fairly and honestly toward its insured and with due regard for her or his interests”.
In plain English, insurance companies are required to handle claims in a reasonable manner. They must promptly investigate when a policyholder submits a claim. If the claim is valid under the policy, they’re required to pay fairly.
How Do I Know Whether I Have a Valid Bad Faith Insurance Claim in Florida?
Proving that the insurance company was negligent is not enough, on its own, to establish a valid bad faith insurance claim. The insurance company must have committed some type of intentionally dishonest or unfair action. Bad faith insurance practices are deliberate acts that cause the insurance company to violate the terms of the insurance contract.
Speaking with an experienced lawyer is the best way to learn whether you have a valid bad faith insurance case.
For example, valid bad faith insurance claims may involve situations where the insurance company:
- Denies a claim without providing any reason or explanation
- Misrepresents the facts of your case to push you into accepting an unfair settlement offer
- Lies about the terms of your insurance policy to avoid having to pay
- Fails to investigate the legitimacy of your insurance claim within a reasonable amount of time
- Ignores your claim and/or fails to communicate with you afterward
- Creates unnecessary delays
- Requests unreasonable documentation or information in an attempt to delay payment or avoid settling
- Fails to notify you that the insurance company needs additional information to proceed with your claim
- Pressures you not to consult a lawyer about your case
A bad faith insurance claim can be based on either overt actions or omissions. In other words, your claim could also be based on something the insurance company failed to do. You do not have to prove that the insurance company had a general business practice of dealing in bad faith with insurance policyholders.
If you suspect you were a victim of bad faith insurance practices, call our personal injury law firm in New Port Richey today. We’ll evaluate your case for free and help you understand your legal options.
Our Skilled Insurance Lawyers Handle All Types of Bad Faith Claims in New Port Richey
Bad faith insurance laws protect people from bad faith insurance practices under any type of insurance coverage.
At Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers, we represent insurance policyholders in cases involving:
- Homeowners insurance
- Property damage claims
- Loss of use coverage
- Car insurance
- Personal injury protection (PIP) coverage
- Life insurance
- Health insurance
- Renters insurance
- Flood insurance
- Wind insurance
- Hurricane insurance
- Fire insurance
- Personal property insurance
- Business liability insurance
- Commercial insurance
- Professional liability insurance
- Workers’ compensation insurance
Bad faith insurance claims can involve either first-party liability or third-party liability. For example, first-party liability involves situations where you file a claim with your own insurance company after a car accident. You can also pursue damages if you had a valid claim against someone else’s insurance company (called a third-party claim) and they acted in bad faith.
Can an Insurance Company Ever Legitimately Deny My Insurance Claim in Florida?
The insurance company sometimes has a reasonable basis for denying claims.
Some common reasons why insurance companies legitimately deny insurance claims include:
- Failure to pay the policy premiums on time, allowing the policy to lapse
- Failure to file the claim with the insurance company within a reasonable amount of time
- The insurance claim was incomplete and failed to include the necessary information
- The risk or individual was not covered under the insurance contract
- The insurance company has a legitimate dispute about whether it is responsible for paying the settlement
- Failure to respond to the insurance company’s reasonable request for additional information
Typically, the insurance company will provide details about any legitimate claims denial. If your claim was denied without any justification or explanation, it’s entirely possible that the insurance company may be acting in bad faith.
What Types of Compensation Are Available to Victims of Bad Faith Insurance Practices in New Port Richey?
Depending on the facts, you may be entitled to economic damages and non-economic damages.
Economic damages cover your financial costs. Your economic damages claim will depend on the unique facts of your case.
Common examples of economic damages include:
- Property damage that occurred because of the lack of prompt payment
- Interest that accrued because of the delayed payment
- Attorney’s fees and court costs
- Lost wages you experienced due to the time spent dealing with your case
- Medical expenses
- Out-of-pocket expenses
You may also be entitled to non-economic damages. Non-economic damages compensate for your more personal and subjective losses.
Common examples include:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Inconvenience
- Embarrassment and humiliation
- Anxiety and stress
Punitive damages may also be available if you can prove that the insurance company has a regular business practice of dealing in bad faith with policyholders.
How Much Is My New Port Richey Bad Faith Insurance Claim Worth?
Most people want to get a sense of their case value before taking legal action. Understanding the value of your claim is also critical to the negotiation process.
Your case value depends on many different factors, including:
- The nature of the insurance company’s actions
- The types of financial losses you experienced due to the insurer’s acts
- Whether you covered the costs and incurred interest charges
- How the insurance fight has impacted your life and emotional wellbeing
- The time it has taken to get fair compensation
- The type of insurance policy involved
Remember that insurance companies know the law. They know how much your case is worth and may go to great lengths to avoid paying what’s fair. That’s why it’s so important to have an experienced attorney by your side to handle the legal issues.
How Much Time Do I Have To File a Bad Faith Insurance Lawsuit in Florida?
Typically, you have five years from the date that the violation occurred to file a lawsuit.
Before you can take legal action under Florida law, however, you must first give the insurance company 60 days’ notice. That notice must provide details about the violation. The insurance company then has 60 days to correct the problem or pay your damages.
The five-year statute of limitations is paused during the 60-day notice and cure period.
Depending on the facts of your case, it is possible that you could have more or less time to sue for damages. Because bad faith insurance cases can be complicated, it’s always better to call our law group sooner rather than later.
Contact a New Port Richey Bad Faith Insurance Lawyer for a Free Consultation Today
Bad faith insurance claims are rarely simple. An experienced New Port Richey bad faith insurance lawyer can help you navigate the challenges you will encounter. Contact Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers to learn more about how our lawyers can help you fight for the fair compensation you deserve.
