Joliet, IL Attorneys Represent Injured Parties in Bad Faith Claims
Illinois Law Firm Concentrates on Insurance Bad Faith
Insurance companies are in business to make money by collecting premiums and unfortunately, in some instances, denying valid claims. But in most states, including Illinois, the law requires insurance companies to act in good faith and employ fair dealing practices with customers.
Good Faith or Bad Faith?
Good faith on the part of an insurance company is a duty to perform certain activities when handling a claim, such as:
- Promptly investigating claims
- Promptly paying claims, particularly any undisputed portions
- Communicating regularly with policyholders regarding the status of a claim
- Providing a prompt and reasonable explanation of a claim denial or offering some type of compromise settlement
If an insurance company breaches any of these duties, it may have acted in bad faith, and an insured might have a valid claim for negligence, bad faith, breach of contract, and breach of fiduciary duty.
Proving a Bad Faith Claim
When an insured sues an insurance company for bad faith, they must prove two things:
- The insurer’s conduct was unreasonable.
- The insurer knew that its conduct was unreasonable or acted in reckless disregard of whether it was unreasonable.
Whether or not the insurer’s conduct was reasonable must be proven impartially, based on established standards. The testimony of expert witnesses is often required in order to establish objective evidence of these standards.
Contact a Joliet, Illinois Insurance Bad Faith Lawyer Today
If an insurance company used bad faith tactics against you when processing your valid claim, contact the bad faith insurance attorneys at Kelly Law Offices, LLC online or call 1-800-859-8800 to schedule your free initial case evaluation today.
