Were you a victim of bad faith insurance dealings in Stuart, FL? You may deserve compensation. An experienced Stuart bad faith insurance lawyer at Kibbey Wagner Injury & Car Accident Lawyers can help you understand your legal options and fight to maximize your compensation award.
Bad faith insurance practices aren’t always easy to recognize if you don’t have much experience handling insurance claims. To learn more about your right to compensation, call our law offices in Stuart, Florida, at (772) 444-7000 to discuss your case. We offer a free case review, so there’s no risk.
Why Choose Kibbey Wagner Injury & Car Accident Lawyers to Help With a Bad Faith Insurance Claim in Stuart?
For decades, clients like you have trusted Kibbey Wagner Injury & Car Accident Lawyers to help them recover compensation. We deal with insurance companies every day, we know exactly how their claims process works, and we can confidently recognize bad faith practices.
Our Stuart personal injury attorneys have 80 years of combined legal experience and have recovered over $200 million in compensation awards for our satisfied clients. To learn more about how we can help you maximize your financial recovery, call our Stuart personal injury lawyers for a free consultation today.
How Can a Lawyer Help With a Bad Faith Insurance Claim in Stuart, FL?
Dealing with an insurance company acting in bad faith can be incredibly frustrating and financially draining, but you don’t have to face it alone. An experienced Stuart insurance attorney can step in to level the playing field and hold the insurer accountable.
When you hire a lawyer for a bad faith insurance claim, they will:
- Review your policy to identify violations and clarify your rights under the contract
- Investigate the insurer’s conduct, including delays, denials, or underpayments without justification
- Gather evidence to prove the insurance company failed to uphold its legal obligations
- Calculate your full damages, including the value of your original claim and any additional losses from the bad faith conduct
- Negotiate a fair resolution or take your case to court if the insurer refuses to act in good faith
Don’t let an insurance company take advantage of you—our team is here to fight for the compensation and accountability you deserve.
What Are Bad Faith Insurance Dealings?
Broadly speaking, bad faith insurance dealings mean that your insurer failed to handle your case in good faith. While that’s a simple statement, bad faith practices aren’t always easy to spot.
Insurance adjusters are trained to look for opportunities to minimize insurance claims. After all, the insurance company is out to make a profit. Tactics used to minimize payouts aren’t always considered bad faith practices, but there is a line.
The law requires insurance companies to deal with policyholders and claimants in good faith. When they’re dishonest or misleading, that can amount to bad faith dealings.
Florida Law Requires Insurance Companies to Act in Good Faith to Resolve Your Claim
Florida has laws specifically designed to protect the rights of people who are dealing with insurance companies. Under Florida’s insurance laws, you can seek compensation if your insurance company acts in bad faith when resolving your claim.
Under Florida law, bad faith is defined to mean that an insurance company did not attempt “in good faith to settle claims when, under all the circumstances, it could and should have done so, had it acted fairly and honestly toward its insured and with due regard for her or his interests”.
Assuming you have evidence to back up your claim, you can seek compensation in civil court based on bad faith insurance dealings.
Common Examples of Bad Faith Insurance Practices in Stuart
A number of scenarios can amount to bad faith insurance dealings.
You may have a claim for compensation if the insurance company:
- Doesn’t investigate your claim within a reasonable amount of time
- Creates unreasonable delays to avoid processing or paying your claim
- Lies about your insurance policy terms
- Doesn’t give you a reason after it completely denies your claim
- Ignores your attempts at communication during the claims process
- Doesn’t request additional information that would be needed to process your claim
- Asks for unneeded information as a stall tactic
- Pays only a part of your claim with no explanation
- Lies about the facts of your case and tries to pressure you into a lowball deal
- Pressures you not to consult a lawyer
- Fails to defend against third-party claims as required under the policy
- Fails to pay your compensation once your claim is settled
Other situations can give rise to a valid claim. If something doesn’t seem right, call our lawyers in Stuart today. We’ll listen to your story and help you understand your legal options.
Our Stuart Bad Faith Insurance Attorneys Handle All Types of Bad Faith Insurance Cases
When you purchase an insurance policy, you’re counting on the company to honor its promises when the unexpected happens. In all cases, you expect the insurance company to maintain its end of the bargain.
If they don’t, our lawyers are here to help, including with cases involving:
- Florida personal injury protection (PIP) coverage and car insurance
- Homeowners insurance
- Renters insurance
- Property and casualty insurance
- Storm insurance policies that cover flood risks, wind damage, and other storm-related damage
- Fire insurance
- Workers’ compensation insurance
- Commercial and business insurance
- Loss of use coverage
- Life insurance
- Health insurance
- Fire insurance
- Professional liability insurance
Whether you’re dealing with your own insurance carrier or someone else’s, we’re here to help. We know the process can be complicated. Reach out today to learn more about how we can help.
What Sorts of Compensation Are Available to Victims of Bad Faith Insurance Practices in Stuart?
Your compensation award can account for the range of losses you have experienced.
Depending on the facts, those losses may include:
- The original amount of your insurance claim
- Any interest charges if you covered expenses on your own
- Property damage
- Medical costs
- Loss of income
- Attorneys’ fees and court costs
- Inconvenience and other non-financial losses
Your insurance company may also be penalized for failure to pay your claim in a reasonable amount of time.
Can I Pursue Compensation if I’m Dealing With Someone Else’s Insurance Company in Stuart?
Yes, Florida’s insurance laws also apply to third-party claims.
A third-party claim is a claim you make against someone else’s insurance company. For example, if someone else causes a car crash and you were hurt, you may be able to file a claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance company. In these cases, you’re a third-party claimant.
If someone else’s insurance company is giving you the runaround, it can be even more difficult to prove your case. After all, it’s not your insurance policy. Our lawyers are here to help, so contact us today.
What Do I Have to Prove to Get Compensation if I Was a Victim of Bad Faith Insurance Practices in Florida?
Different types of cases require different types of evidence. What you’ll have to prove depends on the legal basis for your claim.
Florida’s Statutory Right of Action
Claims under Florida’s statute require proof that the insurance company was intentionally dishonest or misleading in some way. This is a higher standard than proof of simple negligence.
Cases brought under the statute need specific evidence about the insurance company’s wrongdoing. Our lawyers have the resources to investigate and collect evidence to prove your case.
What Do I Have to Prove to Recover Damages Based on Breach of Contract?
An insurance policy is a legally binding contract between you and the insurance company. You fulfill your obligation by paying premiums on time, and in return, the insurer is required to process and pay valid claims in good faith. When they fail to do so, you may have grounds for a breach of contract claim.
To recover damages, you’ll need to prove:
- A valid contract existed (your insurance policy)
- You met your obligations under that contract
- The insurer failed to meet its obligations (such as denying or delaying a legitimate claim)
- You suffered financial harm as a result of the breach
If you can establish these elements, you may be entitled to compensation for the losses caused by the insurer’s failure to honor the terms of your policy.
What Do I Have to Prove to Recover Damages Based on Negligence?
While negligence isn’t the most common legal basis in bad faith insurance cases—since most fall under Florida’s statutory framework—it can still be relevant in certain situations. Insurers have a duty to act with reasonable care when handling claims.
To prove negligence, you must show:
- The insurance company owed you a duty of care
- They breached that duty by failing to act reasonably or prudently
- That breach caused you harm
- You suffered damages as a result
Even if your case doesn’t fit neatly into a breach of contract or statutory bad faith claim, negligent handling of an insurance matter can still give rise to legal liability. Let us evaluate your case and explain all your legal options.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Lawyer to Handle a Bad Faith Insurance Claim in Florida?
Kibbey Wagner Injury & Car Accident Lawyers, like most injury law firms, works on a contingency fee basis. When you hire us, you’ll agree to pay a fixed percentage of your settlement or verdict.
Your fees always depend on how much compensation we recover for you–and you never pay unless we win.
What Is the Deadline for Filing a Bad Faith Insurance Lawsuit in Florida?
The overall statute of limitations gives you five years to file a lawsuit based on bad faith insurance practices.
Notice requirements also apply. You must give the insurance company 60 days’ notice before you can file a formal lawsuit. The insurance company can fix its errors within that 60-day period. If they don’t, you can sue for damages.
Call to Schedule a Free Case Review With an Experienced Stuart Bad Faith Insurance Lawyer Today
When an insurance company refuses to deal in good faith, the consequences can be extreme. An experienced Stuart bad faith insurance lawyer can help you fight to hold the insurer accountable. To start fighting for a fair deal, contact Kibbey Wagner Injury & Car Accident Lawyers for a free case review today.
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