Do you know or suspect that your insurance company mistreated you after you filed a property damage claim in Shreveport, Louisiana?
If you made a valid claim and your provider delayed, denied, or underpaid it for no good reason, you might have a bad faith insurance case.
A bad faith insurance attorney from Insurance Claim HQ can review your situation, help you determine whether you have a case, and stand up for your rights. We deal with Louisiana insurance companies every day and know how to hold them accountable under state law.
Contact our Shreveport team today to arrange your free initial consultation. There’s no pressure, just clear advice and help from experienced bad faith insurance attorneys who know what you’re up against and will put your interests first.
What Is Bad Faith Insurance?
Insurance companies have a legal and ethical responsibility to treat policyholders fairly. They must follow the terms of their policies and deal honestly during the claims process. When an insurance company intentionally breaks these rules or tries to avoid paying a valid claim, that’s bad faith.
Bad faith can show up in different ways. Some companies might delay payments, deny claims without investigating properly, or offer less money than policyholders deserve.
These actions can leave you in a tough spot financially. You paid for coverage, and the insurer made promises in return. If they don’t keep those promises, you could have grounds for legal action.
Why Insurance Companies Act in Bad Faith
Generally speaking, insurance companies act in bad faith to protect their bottom lines. The less money they pay for claims, the more they get to keep as profits. That incentive leads many providers to cut corners, look for ways to deny coverage, or pressure claimants into accepting lower payouts.
Some adjusters follow company policies that encourage delays or rejections. Others hope you won’t understand your rights or will give up out of frustration. Some simply hope you can’t afford a fight.
Insurance companies have teams of defense lawyers and claim departments working for them, so you need and deserve someone working for you when these corporations act in bad faith. That’s where ICHQ comes in. A Shreveport bad faith insurance attorney can help you hold your insurer responsible during such a stressful time.
Types of Bad Faith Insurance Claims
When you file an insurance claim, you trust your insurer to treat you fairly and abide by the terms of your policy.
But some insurance companies act in bad faith by putting themselves first. At ICHQ, we don’t stand for that. Our attorneys guide clients through the process of filing bad faith claims against insurance companies.
But how do you know if an insurer acts in bad faith? Common bad faith insurance tactics include:
- Unreasonable claim delays – Some insurance companies stall by taking weeks or months to reply to claims or requesting the same information over and over. These delays can wear you down or pressure you to accept less money just to move on.
- Wrongful denials – Your insurer may deny a claim covered under your policy, often asserting that the damage was pre-existing or caused by an excluded event, even when there’s little or no evidence to support that claim.
- Lowball settlement offers – An insurer might acknowledge your claim is valid but offer far less than the loss is worth. This happens often with storm damage or total property loss. These insurers count on you not knowing what your claim is truly worth.
- Misrepresentation of policy terms – Some insurers give false or confusing information about what your policy covers. They might say a specific type of damage or loss isn’t included even when it actually is. This can lead people to give up on claims they have every right to pursue.
How to Prove a Bad Faith Insurance Claim
If you know or suspect you have a bad faith insurance claim in Shreveport, an ICHQ attorney can look closely at your situation, your policy, and the insurance company’s actions. We know how to spot signs of bad faith and how to challenge insurers who take advantage of their policyholders.
Our experienced lawyers will gather evidence, talk to witnesses, and collect written records that show what went wrong with your claim.
Potential evidence might include emails, letters, or reports from the insurance company. Our firm can also enlist experts, such as public adjusters, to demonstrate how your insurer’s conduct fell short of accepted industry standards. We will clearly demonstrate how the insurance company ignored facts, twisted policy terms, or failed to investigate your claim thoroughly.
Proving bad faith takes more than just showing a denial. It takes proof that the insurer acted unfairly or on purpose. ICHQ knows how to build a strong case with compelling evidence of these shady tactics.
What Compensation Can You Recover in a Bad Faith Insurance Claim?
If you win a bad faith case, you could recover more than just compensation for the original value of your claim. If an insurer failed to pay your claim without a good reason or acted on purpose to delay or deny it, you could recover extra money from penalties against your provider.
Let’s say your insurer failed to pay a legitimate, fully substantiated claim within 30 days as required by Louisiana law. In that case, you could demand a penalty from your insurer worth up to 50 percent of the amount they wrongfully withheld. You could also recover compensation for your legal fees and any financial harm the delay caused, like missed payments, extra repair costs, or other direct losses.
Why Hire a Bad Faith Insurance Attorney in Shreveport?
At ICHQ, we understand how insurance companies work. We know the rules providers must follow and what to do when they break them. When you come to us for help, we can listen to your story, explain your options, and take action right away.
As we handle your claim, we will gather strong proof, deal with the insurance company for you, and push for a fair result. Our team is comprised of many Louisiana natives who understand the devastation that storms, fires, and floods can wreak on Shreveport residents.
We won’t let insurers drag their feet, twist the facts, or scare you out of asserting your rights. When you hire our Shreveport bad faith insurance attorneys, you get a team that is unafraid to fight back and ready to stick with you until your case is closed.
Contact a Bad Faith Insurance Attorney in Shreveport Today
If your insurance company is giving you the runaround or refuses to pay what you deserve after property damage or loss in Louisiana, you need to talk to a lawyer who can pinpoint what your claim is worth and whether you’re being underquoted.
ICHQ is here to hold insurance companies accountable for the promises they break to the consumers who faithfully pay premiums.
Your next step costs nothing and can make a world of difference in your life. Call or contact ICHQ today for a free consultation with a Shreveport bad faith insurance lawyer.