Warwick Bad Faith Insurance Lawyer
When an insurance company refuses to offer a prompt and fair payment for a claim, the attorneys at the Law Offices of Ronald J. Resmini, Accident & Injury Lawyers, Ltd. can help you hold the insurance company accountable and collect fair payment for your claim. Insurance companies are legally obligated to honor their policies without trying to underpay or give claimants the runaround. When an insurance company isn’t working with you in good faith, the team at the Law Offices of Ronald J. Resmini, Accident & Injury Lawyers, Ltd. are prepared to take action. Call us at (401) (401) 751-8855 to speak to a member of our team.
What Is Bad Faith in Rhode Island Insurance Law?
Insurance policies are vital to protecting the things that matter to us the most. You may have an insurance policy for your home and another policy for your car. In fact, Rhode Island law requires drivers to carry car insurance with minimum policy limits. In addition, homeowners who have a loan must maintain insurance that covers most kinds of damage to their home. Disability policies and even life insurance are other vital types of insurance protection that help Rhode Island residents secure their property, their finances, and their future.
There’s a name for the insurance company’s actions when they fail to promptly pay valid claims. An insurance company that doesn’t fairly honor a policy acts in bad faith. Insurance company bad faith is the legal liability that applies when an insurance company stalls or refuses to make a payment when the insurance policy covers the loss. Rhode Island law protects people who purchase insurance policies from bad faith actions on the part of the insurance companies.
Rhode Island Bad Faith Insurance Law
Rhode Island’s bad faith insurance law is Rhode Island law section 9-1-33. The law says that an insurer may not act wrongfully or in bad faith when they handle a claim. They must fairly pay and settle claims according to the terms of the policy and follow all of the obligations of the contract of insurance. When an insurance company refuses to resolve a claim in good faith, the victim may bring a cause of action against the insurance company for compensation. Rhode Island law 9-1-33 says that the victim may claim compensatory damages, extra amounts as punitive damages and even attorney fees. Under Rhode Island law, if you bring a bad faith insurance law claim, it’s up to the trier of fact to decide whether the insurance company acted in bad faith. If your case goes before a jury, it’s the jury that decides whether the insurance company’s actions amount to bad faith.
Insurance companies love to advertise their customer service and claims processing speed. When you make an insurance claim, you expect the insurance company to live up to their promises. After all, you chose the right coverage for you and faithfully paid your premiums. Unfortunately, the insurance company doesn’t have the same interests as someone who makes an insurance claim.
The insurance company is a business. Their primary goal is to make money. When they pay a claim fairly, they make less money. An insurance company and a claimant have different goals. While the claimant wants the insurance company to pay quickly and fairly, the insurance company wants to keep the same money. In a way, you’re an adversary with your own insurance company.
Types of Insurance Company Bad Faith
There are a number of ways that an insurance company may act in bad faith. Some examples of bad faith in auto insurance, property insurance, and disability insurance include:
- Refusing to respond when you submit a claim
- Denying your claim when it’s valid
- Continually asking for more information even though they have enough to process the claim
- Finding reasons to stall payment
- Saying things that are insulting or saying other rude comments during the review process
- Offering a settlement that’s too small
- Telling you that you have no way to appeal a decision
- Suggesting that the claim is lost and you must resubmit the information repeatedly
Insurance bad faith occurs any time the insurance company doesn’t honestly and diligently honor the terms of a policy.
Recovery for Bad Faith Insurance Claims
When an insurance company acts in bad faith, it quickly creates a ripple effect. A victim may not be able to pay their bills. It can be impossible to pay your living expenses or find reliable transportation. In addition to financial difficulties, insurance bad faith can cause stress and anxiety.
Fortunately, Rhode Island law creates a remedy for victims of insurance bad faith. Individuals who suffer because an insurance company doesn’t honor a policy have a legal remedy. The victim can bring a legal action against the insurance company who refuses to pay. Any of the ways that bad faith can occur may serve as grounds for legal action. A legal action leaves it to a jury to decide whether the insurance company acted in bad faith. The jury can order the insurance company to pay the correct amount for the claim. They can also demand that the insurance company pay an extra amount if you have additional costs and expenses because of the insurance company’s actions.
Insurance Bad Faith Lawyers in Warwick
Insurance company bad faith can be costly and frustrating, but the attorneys at the Law Offices of Ronald J. Resmini, Accident & Injury Lawyers, Ltd. have more than forty years of experience helping insurance policy owners fight for justice against the insurance companies. If the insurance company doesn’t offer fair payment, you don’t have to accept it. There are legal remedies available to you. The attorneys at the Law Offices of Ronald J. Resmini, Accident & Injury Lawyers, Ltd. approach each case with detail and determination. Our goal is to help motivate the insurance company to do the right thing. We have experienced trial lawyers who can show how the insurance company acted in bad faith. Your time to file a claim is limited by state law, and the sooner you begin our claim, the sooner you can receive the recovery that you deserve. Call us at (401) 751-8855 for a free consultation.
