Colorado Insurance Bad Faith Attorneys
People buy insurance policies for the financial security and peace of mind obtained by protecting themselves from unforeseen injuries, calamaties and financial losses. When personal injuries, property damage, or liability exposure arises from an auto accident, a fire, a natural disaster, or other insured event, people turn to their insurance company for protection and expect to receive the benefits they paid for under their insurance policy.
Insurance Denials
What happens when the insurance company fails or refuses to honor their insurance contract to provide benefits? The insurance company’s actions expose the insured to being personally liable for the monetary obligations underlying the insured’s claims.
The Colorado courts recognize that this involves more than just breach of a contract. Due to the special nature of insurance contracts and the difference in bargaining power between consumers and insurance companies, Colorado law provides remedies to protect insureds from insurers conduct in unreasonably refusing to pay a claim and failing to act in good faith. Due to the special nature of insurance contracts and the relationship between the insurer, a breach of the insurer’s duty of good faith and fair dealing gives rise to a claim in tort against the insurer based on its wrongful conduct prior to the time of payment. An insured can recover damages for bad faith breach of insurance contract. Compensatory damages for economic and non-economic losses are available to make the insured whole and, where appropriate, punitive damages are available to punish the insurer and deter wrongful conduct by this and other insurers. Non-economic losses include damages for emotional distress, pain and suffering, inconvenience, fear and anxiety, and impairment of quality of life. In certain cases, an insured can recover two times the amount of unpaid benefits an insurance company owes.
These rights and remedies serve as important safeguards in protecting insureds from insurers unreasonable conduct in:
•Denying valid claims
•Failing to pay medical bills
•Failing to pay uninsured motorist benefits
•Failing to pay workers compensation benefits
•Delaying payments of benefits
•Delaying decisions on claims or requests for medical treatment for weeks or months
•Offering to pay less than they should to settle valid claims, hoping the insured will accept a smaller amount
•Pressuring insureds to accept less to settle valid claims
•Threatening insureds in order to obtain an advantage over them
•Failing to promptly investigate claims
•Offering invalid excuses for not paying legitimate claims, such as claiming the damages were outside the policy language or that the injuries were not caused by the covered accident
•Protecting the insurance company profits over payment of their insured’s legitimate claims
•Breaching their duty of good faith and fair dealing.
If you or someone you know is having a problem receiving insurance benefits from their car insurance, health insurance, workers compensation insurance, disability insurance, homeowners insurance, or malpractice insurance, you should talk to an attorney who has knowledge and experience in the field of insurance bad faith. This should be done promptly. Do not lose your right to your insurance coverage. By acting quickly, you will protect those rights.
If your insurance company intentionally denies or delays payment of your benefits in violation of contractual or legal agreements, you have may have a basis to file a lawsuit against them. Bad faith insurance claims can arise when your insurance company unfairly deny claims relating to your:
• * Automobile Insurance
• * Medical bills
• * Uninsured motorist (“UM”) coverage
• * Workers Compensation Insurance coverage
• * Business Insurance
• * Homeowners Insurance
• * Fire Insurance
• * Disability Insurance
• * Health Insurance
• * Life Insurance
The Colorado insurance bad faith lawyers at the law firm of McCormick & Murphy, are available for a free consultation. The skilled insurance bad faith attorneys at McCormick & Murphy are familiar with Colorado law, the Colorado insurance standards and they have successfully handled a dozens of insurance bad faith claims. They have the experience and ability to protect your rights. The Colorado bad faith attorneys at McCormick & Murphy can discuss your case with you and advise you of your rights and remedies for bad faith insurance conduct.
Contact McCormick & Murphy
Contact McCormick & Murphy P.C. for a free initial consultation to discuss your potential insurance bad faith claim.
The lawyers of the Colorado law firm McCormick & Murphy take cases throughout Colorado, including:
Colorado Springs | Denver | Pueblo | Canon City | Las Animas | La Junta | Trinidad | Walsenberg | Alamosa | Del Norte | Durango | Monte Vista | Gunnison | Salida | Buena Vista | Leadville | Breckenridge | Eagle
McCormick & Murphy, P.C.
318 S. 8th Street
Colorado Springs, CO 80905
Phone: 719-389-0400
Fax: 719-389-1600
