Pursuing a Bad Faith Insurance Claim
An insurance policy is a written promise, and you have a legal right to expect fair dealing from your insurance carrier. If your claim is wrongly denied or you get the seemingly endless runaround, you can fight back with a bad faith insurance claim. The experienced attorneys at Cochran Douglas in Tacoma, WA, can help. We fight to ensure claimants are treated fairly under state law. Our personal injury law firm has taken on insurance companies of all sizes. We deal effectively with accident claims and dishonest insurance tactics, and have no tolerance for bad faith violations.
About Insurance Bad Faith
Every insurance policy is a legal contract, which comes with an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing. The parties involved are obligated to treat each other fairly without using devious tactics to avoid obligations. In other words, your insurer owes you a legal duty to pay the proper amount when you have viable a claim.
Bad faith laws apply to your own insurance carrier, not to a company insuring another party. For example, your own policy may be responsible for some or all of your claim after a motor vehicle accident. If you caused the accident or the other party is uninsured or underinsured, your insurance adjuster should act reasonably to investigate the case and pay damages promptly and fairly.
Unfortunately, this is not the way every case is handled. Examples of bad faith insurance tactics include:
- Unfair denial of coverage
- Failure to act in a reasonable period of time
- Failure to adequately investigate a claim
- Denial of the true value of a claim
- Failure to provide a reasonable explanation or documentation for claim denial
- Failure to disclose policy limits
- Misrepresenting facts pertaining to the policy or the law
"My husband was involved in a motor vehicle accident and our insurance company refused to provide coverage. Mr. Cochran held them accountable and made them pay!" Katie Christenson
Pursuing Legal Action
In Washington, the Insurance Fair Conduct Act (IFCA) gives you the right to take legal action against your insurance company if a valid motor vehicle claim is unreasonably denied or the company exhibits unfair or deceptive practices. Under the IFCA, these actions can result in an award of up to three times the amount of your actual monetary damages.
When receiving compensation, your damages might include:
- The amount the company should have paid for your accident
- Your losses as a result of the company’s bad faith activity
- Your emotional distress stemming from the insurer's wrongful acts
With more than a decade of experience and a proven record of results, Cochran Douglas can provide you with the best possible outcome for an insurance bad faith claim.
Cochran Douglas Law Fights Corporate Wrongdoing
If your insurance carrier is acting unfairly to avoid paying your full claim, it is essential to contact Cochran Douglas as soon as possible. Loren Cochran and Cole Douglas are dedicated to protecting victims of corporate greed. Our firm works on a contingency basis, so you will pay no up-front attorney fees. With more than a decade of experience and a proven record of results, Cochran Douglas can provide you with the best possible outcome for an insurance bad faith claim. Rest assured: if we take your case, we expect to win.
Contact Us
Don’t try to handle a bad faith claim alone. For compassionate legal help, please contact our office today to schedule a free consultation.
