Colorado Springs Bad Faith Insurance Attorney Serving Clients throughout Colorado
If an insurance company failed to investigate your claim, failed to pay you the compensation you are owed, failed to return your calls or emails, or engaged in other behaviors that you think might have been in bad faith, you should discuss your case with our Colorado Springs bad faith insurance lawyers as soon as possible.
When you pay an insurance premium to be insured, you should be able to expect that the insurance company will act in good faith and will properly investigate claims and attempt to provide insureds with reasonable compensation when it is appropriate.
While it is essential to remember that an insurance company is not on the side of the insured, the insurance company still has a duty to act in good faith.
If your insurance company has acted in bad faith, contact the bad faith insurance lawyers at McCormick and Murphy P.C. today for a free consultation.
Treated Fair
In other words, although you should never expect an insurance company to advocate for your right to compensation or to advocate for you in general—even if you have been with the same insurance company for years or even decades—insurers still must treat you fairly.
An attorney at McCormick & Murphy, P.C. can evaluate your case and can discuss your options for filing a claim if an insurance company has treated you in bad faith.
What is Insurance Bad Faith?
Each state handles bad faith insurance claims under state law. Under Colorado law (CRS 10-3-1115 and 10-3-1116), insurance companies have a duty to act in good faith when handling insurance claims.
In Colorado, insurance bad faith law is statutory, but there is also case law that informs how courts in Colorado Springs handle bad faith insurance claims. The statute discusses bad faith as an “improper denial of claims.” The statute makes clear the following:
“A person engaged in the business of insurance shall not unreasonably delay or deny payment of a claim for benefits owed to or on behalf of any first-party claimant.” A first-party claimant is defined as “an individual, corporation, association, partnership, or other legal entity asserting an entitlement to benefits owed directly to or on behalf of an insured under an insurance policy.”
Examples of Bad Faith Insurance in Colorado
There are numerous ways in which an insurance company or an insurer may engage in bad faith. Common examples of Colorado Springs bad faith insurance claims include but are not limited to the following:
- Insurance company refuses to investigate a claim it receives;
- Insurance company delays investigating an insurance claim;
- Insurance company realizes the claimant should receive compensation from the insurer but fails to make a settlement offer;
- Insurance company refuses to tell the insured whether she or he is eligible for compensation in a timely manner;
- Insurance company significantly low-balls a settlement offer, attempting to get the insured to accept a settlement worth substantially less than what she is owed;
- Insurance company fails to respond to communication with a person who has filed an insurance claim, from phone to email communication;
- Insurance company fails to properly explain the terms of the policy under which the claim has been filed; or
- Insurance company intentionally provides incorrect information about the terms of the policy under which the claim has been filed.
There are other ways that an insurance company can engage in acts of bad faith, as well. If you believe you have been treated unfairly by an insurance company, it is important to speak with a Colorado Spring bad faith insurance attorney. You may be eligible to file a lawsuit to seek financial compensation.
Remedies for Plaintiffs Who File a Colorado Bad Faith Insurance Claim
If you file a bad faith insurance claim in Colorado Springs and win your case, you can be eligible to receive a significant amount of damages under Colorado law, including the following:
- Two times the covered benefit (two times the amount that you would have received if the insurance company paid your claim appropriately in the first place);
- Reasonable attorney fees;
- Court costs; and
- Breach of contract damages for failing to abide by the terms of the insurance contract.
Depending upon the amount of your original insurance claim and the length of time your case goes on, you could receive a substantial damages award by filing an insurance bad faith claim in Colorado Springs.
A bad faith insurance attorney in Colorado Springs at our firm can discuss the amount that you might expect by filing a lawsuit.
How Do I File a Bad Faith Claim Against an Insurance Company in Colorado Springs?
How do you file a bad faith insurance claim in Colorado Springs? You should begin the process by hiring an experienced Colorado Springs bad faith insurance lawyer who has experience handling cases similar to yours.
Finding the Right Colorado Bad Faith Insurance Lawyer for Your Case
When you consult with an attorney, you should consider asking the following questions:
- Have you handled cases similar to mine in the past?
- How can you tell that my experience with the insurance company amounts to bad faith under Colorado law?
- What outcomes have you obtained in similar bad faith insurance cases in Colorado?
- Do you have past clients with whom I could speak or client testimonials I could read?
- What kinds of damages might I expect to receive if I win my case?
- How long do you expect my case will last?
- Will we be able to settle my case out of court, or will we need to take my case all the way to a verdict?
- How will I communicate with my lawyer—phone, email, or text?
- How will I pay you, and can we wait until I obtain a settlement or verdict from the case (in other words, do you take cases on a contingency basis)?
You should feel comfortable asking a potential lawyer any questions that seem important to you as you decide who to hire for your case.
Contact a Colorado Springs Bad Faith Injury Attorney
Dealing with an insurance company that is acting in bad faith can be devastating, especially when you need that insurance money to cover medical expenses and lost wages. One of the experienced bad faith insurance lawyers in Colorado Springs at McCormick & Murphy, P.C. can speak with you today about your claim.
Call 888-668-1182 or contact McCormick & Murphy, P.C. for more information about our services in a bad faith insurance case in Colorado.