Denied Disability Benefits for a Verified Injury? Signs of Insurance Bad Faith
If an insurance companies cannot denied your disability claim, they may have also broken the law in doing so. An Inland Empire Insurance bad faith lawyer at Quincey Law can take the fight to the insurance company when they have acted illegally.
Disability benefits can be notoriously difficult to obtain, even when you have privately purchased a policy. Insurance companies may reject these claims because they know they could owe you a large amount of money. In doing so, they can violate California’s insurance bad faith law. It is imperative that you are on the lookout for signs of bad faith, so you can take legal action when necessary.
Get to know how an Inland Empire Insurance bad faith attorney at Quincey Law can help you by scheduling a free initial consultation with our firm at (866) 945-9175. We passionately believe that you have rights as an individual, and they cannot be compromised by the actions of a large insurance company.
Insurance Companies Must Follow the Law When Handling Your Disability Benefits Claim
If you have purchased a short or long-term disability insurance policy, the insurance company cannot simply deny your claim with no questions asked, regardless of the medical documentation that you submit. If you are filing a disability benefits claim for an insurance policy that is not subject to ERISA, you may be able to file a bad faith lawsuit against the insurance company when they have wrongfully denied your claim. An experienced attorney can make you aware of signs of bad faith and take legal action on your behalf when you have been victimized by them.
Insurance companies are notoriously stringent when it comes to approving disability benefits. Regardless of whether your policy is a short or long-term one, the insurance company knows that it could owe you a considerable amount of money if it approves your claim. Accordingly, the insurance company may do whatever is in its power to find a reason to deny your claim. Just because the insurance company has denied your claim does not mean that it is proper and legal under the law. Here are some signs of insurance bad faith when it comes to your disability benefits claim.
Misrepresenting the Terms of Your Policy
Not only must you show that you meet your policy’s definition of “disabled” to qualify for disability benefits, but you must also follow all of the other requirements. An insurance policy is a contract between you and the insurance company. The insurance company may interpret the terms of the policy in a hyper-technical manner to deny your claim. Even worse, they may simply misrepresent what is actually in your policy or add things that were never included in the first place. The insurance company must give an accurate depiction of the exact language of your policy when it forms the basis of their decision, or else they can be held liable for bad faith.
Unreasonably Ignoring Evidence You Have Provided
When you file a disability insurance claim, you include medical information that was compiled by your treating physician. Your doctor is the one who knows your condition, and they have a better idea of what you are facing, more so than anyone else. However, the insurance company may completely ignore what is in the documentation from your treating doctor in favor of an opinion provided by a medical professional whom they have hired who has never seen or examined you.
Failure to investigate your claim before issuing a denial is closely related to ignoring the evidence you have provided. The law requires the insurance company to conduct a complete investigation before they issue a decision. Failure to do so is an example of bad faith.
Lengthy Delays in Processing Your Claim
Insurance companies must process your claim within a reasonable amount of time before they give you their decision. However, insurance companies have been known to take a considerable amount of time before they respond. Whether it is an intentional attempt to delay your claim, or simply that the insurance company is inefficient, it can be bad faith when they impose an unreasonable delay upon you. In this regard, bad faith can include things like completely ignoring your attempts to communicate, or repeatedly requesting the same information multiple times. It does not even matter whether the insurance company intended to drag out your case. Unreasonable delays are bad faith, no matter how they are caused.
Contact an Inland Empire Insurance Bad Faith Law Firm Today
Knowing what can be considered bad faith is a large part of the legal battle, and you can gain this knowledge by speaking to an Inland Empire Insurance bad faith lawyer at Quincey Law. You can schedule a free initial consultation by filling out an online contact form or by calling us today at (866) 945-9175.
Nicholas Quincey is the founder of Quincey Law, and has over a decade of experience of handling insurance claims denials and personal injury matters for people throughout California. We have pursued insurance bad faith claims for people involving life insurance, health insurance, homeowners and disability insurance. We also work with clients and families who need assistance filing and pursuing a personal injury matter. Learn more here.