What you need to know about filing a bad faith insurance claim

On Behalf of | Jan 14, 2021 | Personal Injury |

Auto accidents are quite common. Michigan is a no-fault insurance state, so you have to file a claim with your own insurance company to try and recover your medical costs if you suffer injuries in a wreck.

The decision as to whether they pay, however, is their own. You may be able to file a bad faith insurance lawsuit against your insurer if they deny your claim for a frivolous reason. 

What’s a bad faith claim?

State law requires insurance companies to be fair and act in good faith when dealing with their insured. You may be able to sue an insurer for bad faith insurance practices if they are either deceptive or unfair in their dealings with you.

Some examples of these practices may include not processing your claim timely or not giving a reason for its denial. If they offer a settlement that doesn’t seem to be appropriate or require you to file a lawsuit to recover damages, then the situation may also warrant investigation. The same logic applies if you have reason to believe that your insurance company didn’t thoroughly investigate your case. 

Do you always need an attorney to deal with the insurance company?

Insurance companies exist to make money — and paying more than they absolutely have to pay on a claim is not part of their plan. Working with an experienced advocate from the start can relieve you of the burden of dealing with the insurance company in the first place. It can also subtly encourage a company to play fair.

It’s only right for injured Michigan drivers to hold their insurance companies accountable and make them live up to their promises. An attorney can protect your interests and make sure that you receive everything you are due.