Montana Bad Faith Insurance Lawyer

Bad Faith Insurance Attorney In Montana

Your insurer has a duty to you to honor the terms of your insurance policy. Unfortunately, many insurance companies are more interested in turning a profit than in fulfilling their obligations to their customers. Insurance bad faith occurs when your insurance carrier denies or delays payment of your claim in violation of your insurance contract. If you believe your insurer is trying to settle for less than you deserve, it’s crucial to consult a Montana bad faith insurance lawyer.

Contacting a lawyer as soon as possible can help you protect your rights and secure a fair settlement. Get in touch with an insurance dispute attorney from Bliven Law Firm, P.C. right away.

Understanding Your Rights: The Importance of Legal Representation

When dealing with insurance companies, it’s crucial to understand that you have rights as a policyholder under bad faith insurance laws. Unfortunately, many individuals may not be aware of the extent of these rights or how to assert them effectively.

At Bliven Law Firm, P.C., we believe that informed clients are empowered clients. Our dedicated team of insurance bad faith lawyers is here to guide you through the complexities of insurance law and make sure that your voice is heard.

Here’s why having a knowledgeable attorney on your side can make all the difference:

• Expertise in Insurance Law: Our attorneys focus on navigating the nuances of bad faith insurance cases, including insurance policies and state regulations, so that you receive fair treatment.
• Negotiation Skills: We are skilled negotiators who can advocate on your behalf, pushing back against unfair practices and getting you fair compensation.
• Comprehensive Case Evaluation: We conduct thorough assessments of your case, identifying all potential avenues for recovery and building a robust strategy tailored to your situation.
• Peace of Mind: With our team handling the legal complexities, you can focus on your recovery and well-being, knowing that your case is in capable hands.
• Contingency Fee Basis: We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we attain a successful outcome in your case, making legal representation accessible to everyone.

Don’t navigate the challenges of insurance claims alone. Let Bliven Law Firm, P.C. stand by your side and seek for the justice you deserve. Contact us today to learn more about your rights and how we can help.

Insurance Companies Have a Duty to Their Customers

The law recognizes the disparity in bargaining power between an insurance company and its customers. As such, your insurance company has a duty to act in good faith and deal fairly with you when deciding whether to accept or deny your claim.

This duty mandates, at minimum, that your insurance carrier refrains from engaging in the following unfair practices:

• Failing to investigate your claim promptly and thoroughly
• Requiring excessive statements and estimates to support a valid claim
• Setting unreasonable appointment times for statements and estimates
• Delaying payment of your claim
• Failing to provide a written explanation of why your claim was denied
• Withholding benefits guaranteed to you under your policy
• Refusing to defend a claim against you
• Refusing to agree to a reasonable settlement offer in a claim against you

Types of Compensation You Could Earn

You can earn both economic and non-economic compensation in a bad faith insurance case. Forms of compensation can include:

• Contractual damages. Contractual damages include the base pay you were originally owed and any interest accumulated from the date the claim was initially due.
• Extracontractual damages. You can also claim consequential losses, such as reimbursement for out-of-pocket financial harm, emotional distress, and attorneys’ fees and costs.
• Punitive damages. Montana courts may award punitive damages in cases where the insurer’s conduct was fraudulent or malicious.

Why Hire a Bad Faith Insurance Lawyer?

In 2024, a total of $4,140,881 worth of insurance premiums was written in Montana. This estimate includes premiums for auto, home, liability, and many other forms of insurance. While most policyholders who must file claims have no trouble doing so, a certain number of claims filed in Montana each year are unfairly denied or delayed. When that happens, you can hire a bad faith insurance lawyer to help you with your case.

Working with a bad faith insurance attorney is the most effective way to improve your odds of a successful outcome in your case. Your lawyer can assist you with all the details of the case, from filing paperwork to gathering evidence and negotiating a settlement. They can also represent you in court.

FAQs

Q: What Are the Ways in Which an Insurer Can Be Liable for Bad Faith?

A: The ways in which an insurer can be liable for bad faith are failing to investigate a case properly, stalling the claims process unreasonably, and unfairly denying a claim. If your insurer neglects to perform a full investigation or ignores information that could support your claim, they are acting in bad faith. The same is true if they fail to communicate, refuse to issue payment within a reasonable time after claim approval, or deny or underpay your claim without reason.

Q: What Is the Bad Faith Insurance Law?

A: The bad faith insurance law in Montana is MCA 33-18-201, also known as the Unfair Trade Practices Act. This law outlines prohibited behaviors and grants insured individuals the right to file a claim against their insurance companies for damages caused by specific violations. It also exempts claimants from needing to prove the violations were a general business practice.

Q: Is It Hard to Successfully File a Bad Faith Claim?

A: It is hard to successfully file a bad faith claim against an insurance company because you must prove that their conduct lacked proper cause and crossed a line into intentional mishandling. Insurance companies often beat these claims by arguing that they made administrative errors or had legitimate interpretations of policies. Working with a bad faith insurance lawyer is the most effective way to file a successful claim.

Q: How Long Does a Bad Faith Claim Take?

A: How long a bad faith claim takes varies on a case-by-case basis. Complex cases take longer to resolve than simple ones, where it’s clear that the insurance company acted with intentional dishonesty. Working with a dedicated attorney is the most effective way to make sure your case moves along at a speedy rate.

Schedule Your Consultation Today

Our insurance dispute attorneys in Montana and Oregon can go over your case in detail with you and come up with a strong case that can make sure that you get a fair settlement. At Bliven Law Firm, P.C., we know how insurance companies operate, and we aggressively pursue every bad faith case we handle. The goal of our Montana bad faith insurance attorneys is to get our clients fair compensation for their case. Schedule your consultation today.