Experienced Foley Attorney Helping Accident Victims and Consumers
As consumers, we pay into insurance policies so that they pay our claims promptly when it is needed according to the agreement. Unfortunately, many insurance companies refuse to pay or delay payments on claims to save money. If you have been harmed because of an insurance company’s improper actions, you should seek the help of skilled Foley insurance fraud lawyer Whit A. Thomas. He understands that dealing with an insurance company after an accident can be stressful, and he will try to make the process as seamless as possible for you. Whit A. Thomas also is available to help Alabama residents who need an injury attorney to help them pursue compensation from negligent parties.
Pursuing Damages for Insurance Fraud
If you have been hurt in a motor vehicle accident, a slip and fall, or an encounter with a defective product, the chances are that an insurance company will be involved as you try to resolve the case. For example, if you were hit by a careless driver and sustained injuries, you would be able to file a negligence claim against the at-fault party and seek compensation for your harm. The at-fault party’s insurance company would likely pay most or all of the compensation that you are awarded. However, if you were hit by a driver who was uninsured or underinsured, you might need to seek coverage through your policy with your own insurance company. Insurance companies want to settle a case as quickly and cheaply as possible, which often leaves victims with settlement offers that are well below the amount they deserve for their harm.
Under Alabama law, every insurance contract has a clause providing for “good faith and fair dealing.” This means that your insurance company must act honestly and treat you fairly when determining whether or not to pay a claim. A claim for bad faith may arise when an insurance company has intentionally denied the payment of a properly submitted insurance claim for no valid reason, when it takes an inordinate amount of time to make the payment, or when it offers to pay an amount that is clearly inadequate for a particular situation.