You have an insurance policy in case you find yourself in a difficult situation and need help, whether that is with your home, your vehicle, or your health. Dealing with the insurance company is supposed to be straightforward, and it is reasonable to expect that they will honor their part of the agreement after you have regularly paid your premiums. Unfortunately, insurers are corporations, which are known to put profits ahead of people and delay or deny otherwise legitimate claims.
If you believe that you have a valid claim, but the insurance company is unfairly withholding payments, get a Fresno bad faith insurance lawyer from Dunnion Law to help you. Since 1975, the goal of our personal injury firm has been to prevent insurance companies from taking advantage of their customers and holding them to their obligations.
You have an insurance policy in case you find yourself in a difficult situation and need help, whether that is with your home, your vehicle, or your health. Dealing with the insurance company is supposed to be straightforward, and it is reasonable to expect that they will honor their part of the agreement after you have regularly paid your premiums. Unfortunately, insurers are corporations, which are known to put profits ahead of people and delay or deny otherwise legitimate claims.
If you believe that you have a valid claim, but the insurance company is unfairly withholding payments, get a Fresno bad faith insurance lawyer from Dunnion Law to help you. Since 1975, the goal of our personal injury firm has been to prevent insurance companies from taking advantage of their customers and holding them to their obligations.
The purpose of an insurance policy is to provide a safety net in case disaster strikes. For example, you could be out thousands of dollars if a thief steals your car, which becomes more difficult if you cannot get to work. So, your insurance steps in to investigate the situation and provide a reasonable solution. It can be frustrating and financially challenging if the company delays or outright denies your claim because you may be the one paying for everything out of pocket.
Although the company might have legitimate reasons for denying a claim, it is not allowed to do so using deceptive or unfair tactics. These may include:
These tactics are not only unreasonable, but they are also illegal in Fresno, and your attorney can use them as the basis for a bad faith insurance claim.
As soon as you think that you are being treated unfairly by your insurance company, you can begin to prepare your case. Keep copies of your policy, any evidence of the damage or injury you are claiming, and all correspondence you have had with your agent or anyone else at the company. Bring all this to an attorney to get the bad faith insurance claims process in Fresno started.
After gathering these documents, the next thing is to file an official complaint at the California Department of Insurance (DOI), the state agency responsible for regulating the insurance industry. It can investigate the situation and attempt to solve the issue without getting the courts involved.
If this does not work, then a civil lawsuit becomes necessary. The case can be filed either as a tort, which is the breach of implied good faith and fair dealing, or as a breach of contractual obligations, and an experienced lawyer can review the situation to determine which is the best course of action in your bad faith insurance claim.
Furthermore, if the company’s actions were fraudulent or malicious, you may be able to recover punitive damages. Although these are very seldom awarded by the judge, they are designed to punish the insurer and encourage it to change its business practices.
Under California law, a bad faith claim against the insurance carrier can be made if the insured can show that:
(1) Benefits due under the policy were withheld; and (2) The reason for withholding the benefits was unreasonable or without proper cause.
The Judicial Council of California also has defined several factors in determining whether the insurance carrier’s conduct constitutes ‘bad faith,’ including acts such as failing to settle a claim promptly once liability has become apparent, or attempting to settle the claim for less than the amount to which a reasonable person would have believed the injured was entitled. Dunnion Law attorneys are knowledgeable in the legal factors related to ‘bad faith’ and have the experience to pursue aggressive strategies to hold insurance carriers accountable for the injuries caused to our clients, as demonstrated in our result against Golden Eagle Insurance.
In your search for an attorney, we recommend gathering as much information for your case as possible. When you contact Dunnion Law, we will discuss your needs and the specifics of your case. One of our highly experienced personal injury lawyers may also ask you a series of questions so they can understand how best to support you in either starting your case, or helping you get the right resources for your case.
Our personal injury lawyers have a hands-on approach and speak to you from the very beginning without having to go through numerous additional personnel. This allows us to be engaged and dedicated to you from the very beginning to the very end. Upon acceptance of your case, we will introduce you to the rest of your personalized legal team who will work tirelessly to lead you through the legal process with the determination and commitment to get you the compensation you deserve.
When you hire a personal injury attorney, your case is also likely to be resolved more quickly, and settlement is likely to be 3X or more than your counterpart who does not have a lawyer (Insurance Research Council). No matter the accident or injury you’ve sustained, we are here to help you successfully recover from your loss and damages.
Nearly 50 years ago we began our journey with the singular goal of fighting to prevent any insurance company from exploiting vulnerable victims for its own financial gain. Since then, we have held insurance companies, countless government entities, and other businesses financially responsible for the harm and injuries caused to our clients. We are dedicated to representing injury victims in California and protecting those individuals from injustice:
Dunnion Law challenges inequity within the insurance system, proactively pushing the scale back toward those injured through no fault of their own.
We fight entirely on behalf of the victim, defending him/her from insurance companies selfishly motivated to pay him highly undervalued amounts for his injuries.
We provide compassionate, trusted service fully aligned around the victim and his needs, relieving him of the stress, angst and frustration that accompany being injured due to another’s negligence.
The purpose of an insurance policy is to provide a safety net in case disaster strikes. For example, you could be out thousands of dollars if a thief steals your car, which becomes more difficult if you cannot get to work. So, your insurance steps in to investigate the situation and provide a reasonable solution. It can be frustrating and financially challenging if the company delays or outright denies your claim because you may be the one paying for everything out of pocket.
Although the company might have legitimate reasons for denying a claim, it is not allowed to do so using deceptive or unfair tactics. These may include:
These tactics are not only unreasonable, but they are also illegal in Fresno, and your attorney can use them as the basis for a bad faith insurance claim.
As soon as you think that you are being treated unfairly by your insurance company, you can begin to prepare your case. Keep copies of your policy, any evidence of the damage or injury you are claiming, and all correspondence you have had with your agent or anyone else at the company. Bring all this to an attorney to get the bad faith insurance claims process in Fresno started.
After gathering these documents, the next thing is to file an official complaint at the California Department of Insurance (DOI), the state agency responsible for regulating the insurance industry. It can investigate the situation and attempt to solve the issue without getting the courts involved.
If this does not work, then a civil lawsuit becomes necessary. The case can be filed either as a tort, which is the breach of implied good faith and fair dealing, or as a breach of contractual obligations, and an experienced lawyer can review the situation to determine which is the best course of action in your bad faith insurance claim.
Furthermore, if the company’s actions were fraudulent or malicious, you may be able to recover punitive damages. Although these are very seldom awarded by the judge, they are designed to punish the insurer and encourage it to change its business practices.
Under California law, a bad faith claim against the insurance carrier can be made if the insured can show that:
(1) Benefits due under the policy were withheld; and
(2) The reason for withholding the benefits was unreasonable or without proper cause.
The Judicial Council of California also has defined several factors in determining whether the insurance carrier’s conduct constitutes ‘bad faith,’ including acts such as failing to settle a claim promptly once liability has become apparent, or attempting to settle the claim for less than the amount to which a reasonable person would have believed the injured was entitled.
Dunnion Law attorneys are knowledgeable in the legal factors related to ‘bad faith’ and have the experience to pursue aggressive strategies to hold insurance carriers accountable for the injuries caused to our clients, as demonstrated in our result against Golden Eagle Insurance.
See MoreIn your search for an attorney, we recommend gathering as much information for your case as possible. When you contact Dunnion Law, we will discuss your needs and the specifics of your case. One of our highly experienced personal injury lawyers may also ask you a series of questions so they can understand how best to support you in either starting your case, or helping you get the right resources for your case.
Our personal injury lawyers have a hands-on approach and speak to you from the very beginning without having to go through numerous additional personnel. This allows us to be engaged and dedicated to you from the very beginning to the very end. Upon acceptance of your case, we will introduce you to the rest of your personalized legal team who will work tirelessly to lead you through the legal process with the determination and commitment to get you the compensation you deserve.
When you hire a personal injury attorney, your case is also likely to be resolved more quickly, and settlement is likely to be 3X or more than your counterpart who does not have a lawyer (Insurance Research Council). No matter the accident or injury you’ve sustained, we are here to help you successfully recover from your loss and damages.
See MoreNearly 50 years ago we began our journey with the singular goal of fighting to prevent any insurance company from exploiting vulnerable victims for its own financial gain. Since then, we have held insurance companies, countless government entities, and other businesses financially responsible for the harm and injuries caused to our clients.
We are dedicated to representing injury victims in California and protecting those individuals from injustice:
LEADERSHIP
Dunnion Law challenges inequity within the insurance system, proactively pushing the scale back toward those injured through no fault of their own.
TRUST
We fight entirely on behalf of the victim, defending him/her from insurance companies selfishly motivated to pay him highly undervalued amounts for his injuries.
COMPASSION
We provide compassionate, trusted service fully aligned around the victim and his needs, relieving him of the stress, angst and frustration that accompany being injured due to another’s negligence.
See More
Hold your insurer accountable—contact a Fresno bad faith insurance lawyer today to protect your rights.
