Insurance Bad Faith
Insurance bad faith is any unreasonable or vexatious conduct by an insurance company while handling an insurance claim. Insurance bad faith includes improper claims practices by an insurer. The lawyers at Meyer and Blumenshine can assist you in dealing with insurer bad faith.
What is "unreasonable or vexatious conduct" by an insurer? What are "improper claims practices" by an insurer?
An insurance company has a duty of "good faith" to its insured. The duty of good faith is essentially the requirement that the insurance company act honestly and fairly in handling a claim, regardless of where the insured person lives, be it Chicago. Cook County, DuPage County, Will County, Kane County or anywehere in Illinois.
In general, insurer bad faith involves excessive claim delay, or wrongful claim denial and can occur whether you live in an urban area such as Chicago, Illinois or in a rural area elsewhere in the state such as Grundy County, LaSalle County, Peoria County or other county.
There is no limit on the types of claims handling insurer actions that constitute unreasonable and vexatious conduct. Specific improper claims practices are listed in the Illinois Insurance Code. Any action by an insurer that is an improper claim practice is evidence of insurer bad faith.
Unreasonable and vexatious conduct includes many things such as requiring the insured to submit duplicate information such as forms, bills or records, failing to respond to phone calls or letters, telling a claimant they do not need an attorney, misrepresenting insurance policy provisions, misrepresenting the law, failing to conduct a proper claim investigation, making low ball settlement offers, requiring the insured to file suit to recover benefits, or requiring the insured to submit their claims to arbitration to recover benefits.
In Illinois, the Insurance Code provides that a judge may award you attorneys’ fees and penalties if the judge finds the insurance company guilty of unreasonable and vexatious delay.
Law Offices of Meyer and Blumenshine Partner Scott Blumenshine drafted the current changes to the Illinois Insurance Code Bad Faith law.
If you are encountering difficulty in settling your insurance claim, please consider contacting us at 312-263-1000, or by the website contact form for a free consultation on your legal rights.
What is "unreasonable or vexatious conduct" by an insurer? What are "improper claims practices" by an insurer?
An insurance company has a duty of "good faith" to its insured. The duty of good faith is essentially the requirement that the insurance company act honestly and fairly in handling a claim, regardless of where the insured person lives, be it Chicago. Cook County, DuPage County, Will County, Kane County or anywehere in Illinois.
In general, insurer bad faith involves excessive claim delay, or wrongful claim denial and can occur whether you live in an urban area such as Chicago, Illinois or in a rural area elsewhere in the state such as Grundy County, LaSalle County, Peoria County or other county.
There is no limit on the types of claims handling insurer actions that constitute unreasonable and vexatious conduct. Specific improper claims practices are listed in the Illinois Insurance Code. Any action by an insurer that is an improper claim practice is evidence of insurer bad faith.
Unreasonable and vexatious conduct includes many things such as requiring the insured to submit duplicate information such as forms, bills or records, failing to respond to phone calls or letters, telling a claimant they do not need an attorney, misrepresenting insurance policy provisions, misrepresenting the law, failing to conduct a proper claim investigation, making low ball settlement offers, requiring the insured to file suit to recover benefits, or requiring the insured to submit their claims to arbitration to recover benefits.
In Illinois, the Insurance Code provides that a judge may award you attorneys’ fees and penalties if the judge finds the insurance company guilty of unreasonable and vexatious delay.
Law Offices of Meyer and Blumenshine Partner Scott Blumenshine drafted the current changes to the Illinois Insurance Code Bad Faith law.
If you are encountering difficulty in settling your insurance claim, please consider contacting us at 312-263-1000, or by the website contact form for a free consultation on your legal rights.