Bad faith
When the insurer stops playing fair
Bad faith is not a bigger word for a denial. It’s a separate claim about how the insurer behaved.
Every insurance policy carries a duty to deal fairly with you: to investigate, to answer and to pay what's owed without needless delay. When an insurer ignores that duty, the law can make it pay more than the claim itself. The rules differ by state, so we look at your file and tell you plainly whether there's a case.
Signs we look for in the file
Months without a decision
No payment and no denial, only requests for more.
The same document, again
Lists that repeat what you already sent, to new adjusters each time.
An estimate written to fit
Line items left out, or prices far below what anyone on the coast could hire for.
A reason that keeps changing
One letter says wear and tear, the next says late notice.
A release with a deadline
A release offered with a check and a short deadline.
No real investigation
A denial written before anyone walked the property.
Bad faith, answered
Do I have to sue to bring a bad-faith claim?
Often a letter that lays out the conduct and the law changes how the insurer handles the claim. If it doesn't, the bad-faith claim is usually filed with the claim for the policy benefits.
What should I do while this goes on?
Keep a log. Write down every call: the date, who you spoke to and what they said. It is often the best evidence there is.
Show us the file
Bring the letters, the emails and your call log. We will tell you what we see.