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California Insurance Bad Faith Attorneys

Bisnar|Chase, California Insurance Bad Faith Lawyers, has been holding wrongdoers accountable for the damages they cause since 1978. We are aggressive, accomplished and feared by insurance companies, corporate wrongdoers and their law firms.

Californians are required by law to purchase vehicle insurance and in addition to mandatory insurance most homeowners purchase insurance intended to protect their families in the event of unforeseen and often catastrophic occurrences. Some insurance companies will play on people's emotions when they sell an insurance policy and even make false promises. It is important to remember that insurance companies are in the business of making a profit and insurance companies often make huge profits by paying far less than they should. Consumers are conditioned to believe that their insurance company is looking out for their interests when, in fact, they employ highly paid in-house lawyers whose job it is to intimidate you into accepting a low and often unfair settlement.

The attempt to avoid paying justified claims is what has come to be known as "bad faith". "Bad faith" is the insurance company's breach of your trust, its betrayal in denying your claim for an insincere, fraudulent or false reason.

"Bad faith" can also be the result of your insurance company's refusal to pay the full benefits for which you have contracted. For example, you are injured and your medical bills are $25,000.00 and your insurance company agrees to pay only $15,000.00.

Receiving your fair settlement from a reputable insurance company can be difficult without proper legal counsel, but dealing with an insurance company that is acting in Bad Faith could become your worst nightmare.

Bisnar|Chase, California insurance bad faith attorneys, are dedicated to making sure that your rights are protected and that insurance companies live up to the "faith" you have placed in them. We have the experience and financial resources to fight for your rights from start to finish. “David has indeed met his Goliath”.

If you have experienced any of the following situations from your insurance carrier, you may be able to file a “bad faith” insurance claim against your insurance company.

1. Misrepresenting pertinent facts or insurance policy provisions relating to coverages at issue;
2. Failing to acknowledge and act with reasonable promptness upon communications with respect to claims arising under insurance policies;
3. Failing to adopt and implement reasonable standards for the prompt investigation of claims arising under insurance policies;
4. Refusing to pay claims without conducting a reasonable investigation based upon all available information;
5. Failing to affirm or deny coverage of claims within a reasonable time after proof of loss statements have been completed;
6. Not attempting in good faith to effectuate prompt, fair and equitable settlements of claims in which liability has become reasonably clear;
7. Compelling insureds to institute litigation to recover amounts due under an insurance policy by offering substantially less than the amounts ultimately recovered in actions brought by such insureds;
8. Attempting to settle a claim for less than the amount to which a reasonable man would have believed he was entitled by reference to written or printed advertising material accompanying or made part of an application;
9. Attempting to settle claims on the basis of an application which was altered without notice to, or knowledge or consent of the insured;
10. Making claims payments to insureds or beneficiaries not accompanied by statements setting forth the coverage under which the payments are being made;
11. Making known to insureds or claimants a policy of appealing from arbitration awards in favor of insureds or claimants for the purpose of compelling them to accept settlements or compromises less than the amount awarded in arbitration;
12. Delaying the investigation or payment of claims by requiring an insured, claimant, or the physician of either to submit a preliminary claim report and then requiring the subsequent submission of formal proof of loss forms, both of which submissions contain substantially the same information;
13. Failing to promptly settle claims, where liability has become reasonably clear, under one portion of the insurance policy coverage in order to influence settlements under other portions of the insurance policy coverage;
14. Failing to promptly provide a reasonable explanation of the basis in the insurance policy in relation to the facts or applicable law for denial of a claim or for the offer of a compromise settlement;
15. Using as a basis for cash settlement with a first party automobile insurance claimant an amount that is less than the amount that the insurer would pay if repairs were made unless such amount is agreed to by the insured or provided for by the insurance policy.

It is not recommended that you file an insurance claim without first getting the advice of an experienced attorney. Bisnar|Chase will not charge you for their time unless you are awarded compensation for your losses. Even if you decide to do it alone, consult with an experienced California insurance/bad faith attorney before proceeding.

If you have hired an attorney, you do not need to discuss your claim directly with your insurance company. Refer everything to your attorney and NEVER discuss your accident with the defendant's insurance company.

HOLDING WRONGDOERS ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE DAMAGES THEY CAUSE SINCE 1978

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Bisnar | Chase 2006-2008 - Super Lawyers is a listing of outstanding lawyers from more than 60 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Bisnar | Chase has received this award for three consecutive years.

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