Is Your Insurance Company Delaying Your Payment?
If you’ve been in an auto accident and have filed a claim with your insurance company, you likely understand that they can be slow moving. At what point is it too slow? As an auto accident victim in Los Angeles, you have certain legal rights and deserve to receive compensation for your injuries and damages. If your insurance company is giving you the runaround, avoiding your calls, or throwing new forms and paperwork your way, they may be engaging in bad faith and potentially delaying your claim on purpose.
Insurance Companies Want to Make Money
Even though you are paying them to protect you in the case of an accident, auto insurance companies are in the business of making money – including off of the premiums they charge you, the policyholder. Paying out on your claim affects their profit margin, so they are naturally inclined to delay paying in the hopes that you give up or go away. Delaying the legitimate claim of a car accident victim who is suffering is a despicable practice, and yet, it’s one that occurs over and over again.
Common Delay Tactics
Auto insurance companies use a range of delay tactics to avoid paying out on a claim, including:
- Asking you to give a recorded statement – that they can use against you down the road
- Asking you to sign medical authorization forms – to give them access to health data that you will want to be kept between you, your doctor, and your accident attorney
- Disputing part or all of your medical bills
- Misrepresenting the law
- Telling you not to hire an attorney
And more. At the end of the day, the longer an insurance company delays paying out on a claim, the more the company makes in premium payments and interest growth – and the more like you are to accept a lowball offer. It is vital for all insurance policyholders to understand their rights and the duties of insurance companies, and they should also know how to identify bad faith practices.
If you feel like your insurance company is acting in bad faith and mishandling your accident claim, you will want to reach out to an experienced attorney immediately.
For a free, no obligation consultation about your potential car accident claim, contact the skilled accident attorneys at Ghozland Law Firm today.
