I have successfully pursued thousands of claims which were denied and disputed by the nation’s largest insurance companies and obtained the compensation denied to my clients.
Maryland insurance companies deny thousands of claims every year. They undervalue and underpay on thousands more. When challenged, those insurance companies aggressively defend their denials in court.
A crucial fact for any injured person, or person who has sustained a loss, to recognize, and be prepared to deal with, is that an insurance company may not want to compensate you. It shocks many policyholders. Insurance is designed to provide compensation for a loss. My clients rightfully wonder how can that compensation be denied when there is a loss? When dealing with your own insurance company, the process can be enraging. That's what the insured person pays for- coverage for a loss. You paid your premiums. How can your claim be denied or undervalued?
What I see on a recurring basis is insurance companies either denying claims outright, or refusing to offer reasonable settlement value, In theory, the reasons that an insurance company can use to deny a claim are as limitless as the imagination of the creative adjuster. Insurance companies are huge entities with massive resources that dwarf those of the individuals whose claims they deny. It's a safe bet to say that most people know many insurance companies are enormous and profitable. It's probably a safe bet to say that most people don't really understand just how much money the major insurance companies actually make. The American Association for Justice has put that figure at 30 billion dollars, annually, for just the US property/casualty insurers.
Maryland insurance companies reject, minimize and delay claims. I challenge these insurance claim denials and coverage disputes on a daily basis.
One method employed by the insurance industry is to refuse the claim outright. The “denial” is rejection of responsibility, or liability for a loss. When an insurance company denies a claim in total
Another method is to minimize the claim. This can manifest itself in a variety of ways, from labeling the loss “minor” to extending unreasonable “lowball” settlement positions and a refusal to offer full fair compensation for a claim. The unreasonably low settlement offer is, in effect a partial denial, as it is a refusal for fully recognize the merits of the claim.
A third method is to delay the claim. Insurers have an obligation to promptly evaluate a loss, and promptly pay for it, when it is reasonable to do so. Delaying the claim by not timely reviewing documentation for example, is believed by some to have the effect of "wearing down" the victim, who desperately needs settlement funds to cover expenses and bills. It can get worse. The worn-down potential plaintiff, in this scenario, may be willing to settle for less, due to the deteriorating financial predicament exacerbated by the delay.
When an at-fault third party's insurance company denies a claim, the proper method it to sue that guilty party, and asks a jury to award fair an reasonable compensation. When it is your own insurance company that denies a claim, in whole or in part, the the proper challenge is to sue that insurance company directly in a court of law, and ask the court to determine a fair recovery.
I immediately challenge and then attack wrongful insurance claim denials, including:
- Business Insurance/Business Interruption/ Lost Profits
- Auto Insurance /Uninsured motorist / PIP benefits
- Homeowner’s Insurance
- Life Insurance
- Personal Injury claims
- Workers’ compensation claims
- And More
Bad faith may occur where your insurance company failed to act with honesty or diligence, or made a decision without supporting evidence. In some circumstances you may ask a court to determine whether your insurance company acted in bad faith by not paying you. If they failed to act in good faith, you can recover your attorney's fees, litigation costs, and interest.