Pittsburgh Bad Faith Insurance Attorneys

Standing Up to Dishonest Insurance Companies

When you're already dealing with the stress of an accident or loss, the last thing you need is an insurance company that refuses to uphold the terms of the policy it sold you. If this has already happened to you, though, reach out to Friday & Cox now and talk to our dedicated Pittsburgh bad faith insurance lawyers. We have extensive experience in fighting for people who've been unfairly denied policy coverage and benefits by insurance companies for illegitimate or even illegal reasons. If you feel cheated, mistreated, or ignored by your insurance provider, put Friday & Cox in charge of the legal fight to set things right. We know how to leverage our experience, insight, and resources to challenge the actions of these insurance giants, so we can confidently pursue justice and compensation in your name.

We can work on bad faith insurance claims involving all sorts of policies, such as:

• Auto insurance
• Homeowner’s insurance
• Medical or healthcare insurance
• Small business insurance

Call our Pittsburgh bad faith insurance lawyers at (412) 900-8250 now to learn more.

What is Bad Faith Insurance?

Bad faith insurance refers to a scenario where an insurance company fails to fulfill its obligations to policyholders, acting contrary to how a reasonable insurer would. This may include unjustified denial of claims, delayed payments, lack of proper claim investigation, or failure to defend a policyholder. In essence, it's when an insurance company does not deal fairly and honestly with its customers, violating the implicit promise of good faith and fair dealing found in every insurance contract. The concept hinges on the principle that insurance companies are obligated to act in the best interest of their policyholders and must handle claims promptly, thoroughly, and fairly.

Types of Bad Faith Insurance

At Friday & Cox, we handle a variety of bad faith insurance claims for our clients. If you suspect that an insurance provider is mishandling your claim in any way, we want to hear from you.

Four of the most common forms of bad faith insurance are:

1. Denying a claim without a proper reason: When an insurer denies a claim without a valid explanation or without giving a reason at all, it can be bad faith insurance. The insurer may simply refuse to pay, despite the policyholder's claim being valid and within the terms of the policy.
2. Failing to investigate a claim: An insurance company has a duty to conduct a thorough and timely investigation of any claim made by a policyholder. If an insurer fails to investigate a claim or does so in a cursory or biased manner, it could be acting in bad faith. A fair investigation requires the insurer to gather all relevant facts and circumstances surrounding the claim before making a decision.
3. Intentionally delaying the handling of a claim or payments: This type of bad faith insurance practice involves the insurer intentionally delaying the processing of a claim or the payment of benefits. This could be done by repeatedly asking for unnecessary paperwork, giving misleading information, or waiting until the last day to take action before inaction would violate the policy, all to stall the process. Prolonged delays can put policyholders in difficult financial situations and may be used to coerce them into accepting lower settlements.
4. Changing the details of a policy after it is signed: This happens when an insurance company alters the terms of the policy after it has been agreed upon and signed by the policyholder. The changes could involve increasing the premium, reducing the coverage, or adding exclusions without the policyholder's knowledge or consent, which may be as illegal as it is unethical.

Call our firm today by dialing (412) 900-8250 or submit an online contact form at any time.