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Insurance Bad Faith

We are client-focused with over three decades of experience, compassion and results.

Kansas City Insurance Bad Faith Attorney

Providing Legal Services to Protect Your Rights Against Insurance Companies

Bad faith claims and lawsuits against insurance companies are demanding and complicated, especially because these corporations have great wealth, attorneys on their payroll, and a drive to protect profits at the expense of all else. You can be sure they will put up a fight if you accuse them of acting in bad faith. You need a team with the experience, skills, and tenacity to fight back.

Our firm has always had a passion for protecting the rights of those who have been wrongly injured. We have seen countless individuals taken advantage of by insurance companies that are shameless in their unfair tactics. Our Kansas City, bad faith insurance attorneys take pride in our demonstrated ability to stand up to large, corporate insurance companies and hold them accountable for the agreements they make with the public.

If you have to file an insurance claim, chances are you have already suffered enough. Unfortunately, in many of these instances, your insurance provider may, in bad faith, refuse to pay. This means even though your claim is wholly legitimate, they will not give you what they owe. Not only can this be frustrating, but it can also make you feel hopeless in the face of mounting bills and other expenses. If this sounds like you, know that you may have recourse.

What Does Insurance Bad Faith Look Like?

The point of purchasing an insurance policy is peace of mind. Should a negative and costly event occur, having an insurer will protect you from most, if not all, of the unexpected expenses. This is the basic agreement we all enter with insurers when purchasing a policy.

However, when an insurance company, for whatever reason, fails to act as it is supposed to, you may be involved in a bad faith issue. Bad faith occurs when one party fails to fulfill the legal or contractual obligations to which it has agreed. This may include misleading the other party, entering into a contract without the means or intention to honor it, or violating accepted standards of honesty in business dealings.

Examples of Insurance Bad Faith

The following actions made by your insurance provider often indicate bad faith:

  • Failure to pay, or outright deny, a claim within a reasonable period of time
  • Failure to promptly respond to your questions or concerns
  • Attempt to settle a claim for less than a reasonable person would consider fair
  • Unreasonable documentation and/or paperwork requests
  • Failure to provide supporting documentation when denying your claim

In their attempts to save money, insurers have found many ways to act in bad faith. They may try to dodge paying a claim by purposefully misinterpreting the language used in their policy; fail to disclose certain limitations of the policy when you purchase it; engage in unreasonable delays in your dealings; fail to conduct an investigation of your losses; or make arbitrary or unreasonable requests in asking you to prove the loss you have sustained. Such tactics may be so bad they are considered abuse.

What Insurance Policies Are Eligible for a Bad Faith Case?

Though auto insurers are the worst offenders, bad faith can occur with any type of insurance policy, from homeowners’ and renters’ policies to health and life insurance. When such a situation arises, your best chance for recourse may be to file a lawsuit. A Kansas City insurance bad faith lawyer from Presley & Presley can help you understand your rights and pursue damages from your insurance company if they have acted towards you in bad faith.

Bad Faith Claim With a Third-Party

Though insurers tend to put their own interests first when it comes to paying claims, they are actually contractually bound to act in your best interests. When facing claims from a third party, it is illegal for them to:

  • Fail to defend you if a claim is made against you
  • Refuse to settle for damages that are within the scope of your policy

Both of these negligent actions could lead to you facing a lawsuit and having your finances threatened. It should go without saying that if an insurer has agreed to cover certain damages, they cannot pass that burden on to you. If they try to, our team can help you file a lawsuit to compel them to pay.

Also known as a first-party claim, this type of refusal to provide payment contractually owed you is illegal. That means if you purchased uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage and were involved in a hit-and-run that would be covered by it, your insurer must take action to resolve it in a timely matter. They cannot deny a claim without solid evidence to support their decision, nor can they refuse to investigate your claim to avoid their obligation to pay.

Contact Our Bad Faith Lawyers Today for Experienced Representation

Dealing with insurance is frustrating, even if the representatives you speak with are forthright. When they try to ignore your claim, it can be hard to know what to do. Your first step should be to contact a Kansas City insurance bad faith attorney with experience handling these types of claims. The team at Presley & Presley can go through the specifics of your case with you and explain what your options are.

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Request a free consultation

Because we are a boutique law firm, we are able to provide very personalized service to our clients. Our Kansas City, MO personal injury lawyers approach each case with unparalleled skill, genuine compassion, and care. We offer free case evaluations with our team to help you get started on your case. Furthermore, our firm works on a contingency fee basis, meaning that you do not have to pay any legal fees unless we win your case.

Request a free consultation

Because we are a boutique law firm, we are able to provide very personalized service to our clients. Our Kansas City, MO personal injury lawyers approach each case with unparalleled skill, genuine compassion, and care. We offer free case evaluations with our team to help you get started on your case. Furthermore, our firm works on a contingency fee basis, meaning that you do not have to pay any legal fees unless we win your case.

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