Tuscaloosa Bad Faith Insurance Lawyers
Holding insurance companies liable when they improperly try to force you into a bad settlement or deny your claim
Premiums cost a lot of money. When accidents happen, you have the right to expect that your own carrier will review your claim in good faith. If the liability insurance carrier for another driver, a manufacturer, or another third party reviews the merits and value of your claim, they must also negotiate in good faith. At Prince Glover Hayes, we understand the rules of fair play in Alabama contract and personal injury disputes. Our Tuscaloosa bad faith insurance lawyers demand the full compensation you deserve according to the terms and policy limits of the applicable insurance policies.
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What is insurance bad faith?
Generally, insurance companies cannot try to force you into a quick or bad settlement or deny your claim altogether unless they have reasonable grounds to do so. When insurance companies fail to competently investigate your claim in a timely manner and fail to pay your claim or negotiate according to the reasonably true value of your claim, our Tuscaloosa bad faith insurance lawyers are ready to file a bad faith claim against the insurance carrier. There are fundamental distinctions between differences of opinion and clear and unjust treatment.
First-party vs. third-party claims
A claim against your own insurance company is called a first-party claim. These claims generally involve claims for damage to your home, car, or business based on insurance policies that you purchase – such as a claim for mold, roof, or shingle damage. First-party claims can also include personal injuries. Examples of first-party injury claims in Tuscaloosa include:
- Payment of your medical bills through your own health insurance policy
- Payment of lost income if you have your own disability policy
- Payment of your medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering if you file an uninsured/underinsured (UM/UIM) claim – such as when the driver who causes an accident doesn’t have insurance, doesn’t have enough insurance to pay your claim, or the driver who struck you is a hit-and-run driver.
In a third-party claim, you are entitled to compensation because another person or business is responsible for your accident. Here, the insurance companies for the responsible defendants have a duty to pay your claim based on the liability policies of the defendants.
Examples of third-party insurance claims include:
- Car accidents, truck accidents, and motorcycle accidents
- Premises liability accidents
- Product liability claims
- Environmental claims
- Mass tort claims
Generally, the duty to bargain in good faith in a first-part claim is owed to you, the first party. In contrast, the duty to bargain in good faith in a third-party claim is owed to the defendant – but you may have a bad faith claim against the defendant’s insurance company, too, if you’re the third-party beneficiary of the defendant’s insurance policy.
Examples of insurance bad faith in Tuscaloosa
Some of the many ways an insurance company may be liable for bargaining in bad faith include:
- Unreasonable delays. At Prince Glover Hayes, we’ve negotiated numerous personal injury cases and first-party insurance claims. We know the standard times for reviewing your claim and when insurance companies are purposely delaying their investigation or negotiations.
- Failing to communicate. Insurance companies and their adjusters have a duty to return phone calls and emails and respond to letters and other forms of communication in a timely manner.
- Denying valid claims. It’s one thing to deny liability when cars collide in an intersection, and fault is an issue. However, insurance carriers may deny liability even when fault is clear, such as when a driver rear-ends your car while you’re stopped at a red light.
- Failing to investigate your claim. In first-party claims, your insurance carrier should have someone inspect your home, property, or business. They should also communicate with your doctors.
- Other acts of bad faith include:
- Making an unreasonably low offer (insurance companies know how much your claim is worth)
- Filing legal motions that lack any merit
- Refusing to consider valid evidence
- Altering the terms of the insurance policy without your knowledge or consent
If you suspect you may have a bad faith insurance claim, you should contact our Tuscaloosa bad faith attorneys to see if the insurer’s misconduct rises to the level of bad faith.
At Prince Glover Hayes, we’re prepared to help you obtain the evidence necessary to support your bad faith claims. We understand when your insurance company’s conduct is legitimate and when it lacks any justification.
What laws govern bad-faith insurance negotiations in Alabama?
Generally, the duty of insurance companies to bargain in good faith is based on:
- The specific terms of the insurance policy
- The common law – prior court decisions
- The policies and procedures of the Alabama Department of Insurance
- The Alabama Unfair Claims Settlement Practices Act. This law provides that:
“No insurer shall, without just cause, refuse to pay or settle claims arising under coverages provided by its policies in this state and with such frequency as to indicate a general business practice in this state, which general business practice is evidenced by” substantial increases in the number of complaints or lawsuits against the insurer – or other relevant evidence.
Our Tuscaloosa bad-faith insurance lawyers will explain your rights and remedies.
What damages can I receive if my insurance company acts in bad faith in Tuscaloosa?
At Prince Glover Hayes, we hold insurance companies accountable when they fail to play by the rules of fair play and according to their legal obligations. They have no right to stall, delay, deny, or devalue your claim unless they have just cause.
Our Tuscaloosa bad-faith insurance attorneys demand compensation from bad-faith insurance companies for the following damages:
- The damages they should have paid for your valid claim up to the policy limits
- Excess damages – the full value of your claim over and above the policy limits
- Legal fees and court costs to file the bad faith claim
- Interest for the delay based on the time the claim should have been paid
- Any contract damages that may apply
- Any statutory damages that may apply
- Damages for emotional distress if the contract authorizes these damages
- Punitive damages for unconscionable conduct
Do you have a bad-faith insurance lawyer near me in Tuscaloosa?
Prince Glover Hayes meets clients when their insurance carrier or the carrier for the defendants fails to honor their duty to act in good faith at our office located at 2311 University Boulevard, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401. We make alternate arrangements if you can’t come to our office. Our personal injury lawyers also discuss cases by phone and through online consultations.
Our attorneys move aggressively when insurance companies take positions they know have no merit.
Speak with our aggressive bad-faith insurance lawyers today
Insurance companies know the rules. They know when their conduct is proper and when they’re crossing the line. At Prince Glover Hayes, we hold insurance companies liable when they negotiate in bad faith. If your insurance company or an insurance company for a defendant is deliberately denying your claim or submitting unreasonable offers, our Tuscaloosa bad-faith insurance lawyers are ready to fight for you now. We’re prepared to move quickly to force the carrier to explain their misconduct in court. Our team can seek the full damages you deserve for bad faith. Call us or submit our contact form to schedule a free consultation.