Has your insurance claim in Columbus, OH, been delayed or denied for no valid reason? If so, contact Mani Ellis & Layne Accident & Injury Lawyers at (614) 587-8423 for a free consultation. Let our experienced Columbus bad faith insurance lawyers help you hold the insurance company accountable and pursue maximum compensation.
With 71 years of combined experience, our legal team knows what it takes to get results in these complex cases. We have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation for accident victims and their families, and we will fight diligently to help you, too. Contact us now for a free case evaluation and let us get started.
How Mani Ellis & Layne Accident & Injury Lawyers Can Help With a Bad Faith Insurance Claim in Columbus
When you are hurt in an accident in Columbus, Ohio, you are already suffering. You may be struggling to pay your bills and waiting on an insurance claim payout for help. If the insurance company decides to wrongly deny your claim, it only makes matters worse. You may be wondering where to turn, and the thought of challenging the insurance company might seem overwhelming.
Thankfully, the experienced team at Mani Ellis & Layne Accident & Injury Lawyers is here to help.
Our Columbus bad faith insurance lawyers can help you by:
- Reviewing all the details of your original claim
- Evaluating your policy and coverage details
- Handling all communications with the insurance company
- Gathering evidence to prove the adjuster’s or the company’s bad faith practices
- Establishing a pattern of bad faith behavior
- Settling your claim for full and fair compensation
- Filing a bad faith lawsuit and taking your case to court when necessary
If you have been the victim of bad faith insurance practices, contact Mani Ellis & Layne Accident & Injury Lawyers for help today. Schedule a free consultation and let us put our experience to work in your personal injury case.
What Is Bad Faith?
When you buy insurance, you enter into a contract with the insurance company. In exchange for regular premiums, the insurance company agrees to pay you for any covered losses. These insurance contracts include an implied duty to act in good faith.
In plain terms, this means that the insurance company has a duty to investigate your claim adequately and to pay all valid claims. Insurance companies may try to skirt this duty to protect their bottom line. When they decide to act in bad faith, they can be held accountable.
Some examples of behavior that would likely be considered bad faith include:
- Denying your claim without any investigation or without a valid reason
- Failure to appropriately investigate your claim
- Intentionally delaying the processing of your claim
- Failure to respond to communications in a timely manner
- Misrepresenting the details of your coverage
- Changing your policy details after your claim has been filed
Proving these cases may be difficult, so it is important to keep detailed records of all your communications and interactions with the insurance company and its adjuster. Call logs, emails, and text messages may be some of the items used as evidence to prove your case.
What Types of Damages Are Available to Victims of Bad Faith Insurance Practices?
Victims of bad faith insurance may be able to recover the amount of their original claim plus additional damages. This includes both economic damages and non-economic damages.
Economic damages are those that compensate you for your financial losses, while non-economic damages are used to compensate you for your physical or emotional pain and trauma.
Some common examples include:
- Medical bills (and late fees)
- Lost wages
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Anxiety
- Loss of reputation
- Damage to credit history
In Ohio, you may also be entitled to recover punitive damages in some limited cases. These damages are meant to punish the insurance company for their wrongful behavior. To win these damages, you will need to show by “clear and convincing evidence” that the insurance company acted with malice or with a clear disregard for your rights.
At Mani Ellis & Layne Accident & Injury Lawyers, we can help identify all the damages that are available in your case to maximize the value of your claim.
How Common Are Bad Faith Insurance Claims?
In recent years, there has been a significant rise in the number of bad faith claims. Since no official data is published, it can be challenging to determine just how many cases of bad faith happen each year. However, many cases of bad faith likely go unreported, so the problem is likely to be worse than most people realize.
How Long Do I Have to File a Bad Faith Insurance Lawsuit?
The Supreme Court of Ohio has determined that the statute of limitations for bad faith insurance claims depends on the type of underlying insurance claim. So, you could have anywhere from two to six years to file your claim for bad faith.
Missing the deadline for your case means that you may forfeit your right to recover any compensation for your claim. Contact Mani Ellis & Layne Accident & Injury Lawyers today so that we can help ensure you do not miss your chance to obtain a financial recovery.
Contact Our Columbus Bad Faith Insurance Lawyers for a Free Consultation
If your insurance claim has been wrongly denied or delayed, contact Mani Ellis & Layne Accident & Injury Lawyers today. Let us help you hold the insurance company accountable for its actions. You deserve to have your claim paid according to the terms of the policy, and you have a right to recover any additional damages you may have suffered.
Call us today to schedule a free consultation with a Columbus bad faith insurance attorney.