You expect the insurance company to hold up its end of the bargain. If your insurance company has delayed or unfairly denied your claim in St. Petersburg, FL, you may have been a victim of bad faith insurance practices.
If you’re dealing with an insurance company that isn’t living up to its obligations, the team at Perenich, Caulfield, Avril & Noyes Personal Injury Lawyers can help. Between our lawyers, we have over 300 years of legal experience. When we step in, the insurance company will be forced to take you seriously.
We’ve already recovered hundreds of millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts for our clients. Now, our experienced St. Petersburg bad faith insurance lawyers are here to fight for you. Just call (727) 349-1728 or contact our law offices in St. Petersburg, Florida, to schedule a free consultation today.
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How Can Perenich, Caulfield, Avril & Noyes Personal Injury Lawyers Help With My Bad Faith Insurance Claim in St. Petersburg, Florida
Your choice of St. Petersburg personal injury lawyer can make a significant difference to the outcome of your case. Insurance companies deal with lawyers every day. They’re unlikely to take action to resolve your case if your lawyer doesn’t have a track record of success.
Perenich, Caulfield, Avril & Noyes Personal Injury Lawyers is one of the most established law firms in the Tampa Bay area. Three of our attorneys have been board-certified by the Florida Bar Association. We’ve also earned the highest possible AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell.
Our team can force the insurance company to take you seriously by:
- Collecting the strong evidence to prove they acted in bad faith
- Bringing in experts who can testify about the losses you’ve suffered
- Identifying all harm caused by the insurer’s actions
- Refusing to take a lowball deal
- Negotiating fiercely for a fair settlement
Our bad faith insurance lawyers in St. Petersburg are well-prepared to take your case to court if necessary. Give us a call today for more details on how we can help you hold the insurance company accountable.
What Are Bad Faith Insurance Dealings?
Insurance companies are massive, profit-driven organizations. Insurance adjusters are trained to search for ways to minimize insurance payouts. While not all insurance tactics amount to “bad faith dealings”, some tactics cross the line.
Florida insurance companies are legally obligated to deal with policyholders and others in good faith when they file a claim.
Bad faith insurance practices aren’t always easy to identify. The line between “good faith” and “bad faith” can get blurry. Any type of insurance practice that is dishonest, misleading, or fraudulent can be classified as dealing in “bad faith”.
An Overview of Florida Laws on Bad Faith Insurance
Florida has specific laws governing bad faith insurance practices. These laws allow victims of unscrupulous insurance dealings to seek compensation.
Bad faith in Florida means that the insurance company has not attempted “in good faith to settle claims when, under all the circumstances, it could and should have done so, had it acted fairly and honestly toward its insured and with due regard for her or his interests”.
Florida law has created a civil right of action for victims. That means you have the right to file a lawsuit for compensation in civil court.
What Are Some Examples of Actionable Bad Faith Insurance Practices in St. Petersburg?
Insurance adjusters have a number of tricks up their sleeves. Not all are illegitimate. Still, there are some business practices that are simply wrong.
Under Florida law, you could have a valid bad faith insurance case if the insurance company has:
- Failed to investigate within a reasonable amount of time after you submit a valid claim
- Failed to give you a reason for denying your claim outright
- Unreasonably delayed handling your claim or paying your settlement
- Blatantly lied about the terms of your policy
- Ignored your calls, emails, and questions during the claims process
- Lied about the facts in an attempt to convince you to take a lowball settlement
- Failed to provide a defense against third-party claims when obligated under your policy
- Failed to request the information they need to process your insurance claim
- Created unnecessary or unreasonable requests for information as a stall tactic
- Pressured you to avoid calling a lawyer
- Failed to pay your compensation after your claim has been settled
- Paid only part of the claim amount without explanation
- Lied about the insurance company’s ability to pay your settlement
If the insurance company is giving you the runaround or something doesn’t seem right, consult a lawyer. You may be entitled to take legal action.
Our Attorneys in St. Petersburg Handle All Types of Bad Faith Insurance Claims
Insurance policies cover all different types of risks. Regardless of the type of insurance you’re dealing with, you deserve an insurance company that deals with your case in good faith.
Our St. Petersburg bad faith insurance attorneys at Perenich, Caulfield, Avril & Noyes Personal Injury Lawyers handle all types of bad faith claims, including those involving:
- Car insurance
- Florida personal injury protection (PIP) coverage
- Homeowners Insurance
- Renters Insurance
- Property and casualty insurance
- Storm-related insurance policies, including flood insurance, wind insurance, or hurricane insurance
- Loss of use coverage
- Life insurance
- Health insurance
- Fire insurance
- Business liability insurance
- Commercial Insurance
- Professional liability insurance
- Workers’ compensation insurance
If you have questions about your rights under an insurance contract, contact our law firm today. We’ll listen to the facts and evaluate your case for free.
Bad Faith Insurance Laws Apply to Both First-Party and Third-Party Insurance Claims
You may be dealing with insurance as a first-party claimant or a third-party claimant.
First-party claims are claims against your own insurance policy. For example, if you file a claim under your homeowner’s policy after a storm, that’s a third-party claim.
Third-party claims are claims against someone else’s policy. So, if you’re accused of causing a car accident and the victim is pursuing compensation from your auto insurance company, that’s a third-party claim.
Florida’s bad faith insurance laws protect individuals from bad faith practices for both legitimate first and third-party claims.
What Do I Have To Prove To Get Compensation if I Was a Victim of Bad Faith Insurance Practices in Florida?
Again, Florida has a specific statute that gives victims the right to seek compensation based on bad faith insurance dealings.
The law requires more than proof that the insurance company was negligent, or careless. You must show that they acted dishonestly and intentionally failed to deal in good faith. This is generally a higher burden than proof of negligence. You’ll need evidence about the specific dishonest actions that caused you harm.
While most bad faith insurance claims are brought under the statute, you can count on our lawyers to explore any possible option to help you recover compensation.
Negligence Theories
It’s still possible that negligence could be relevant to your case. Insurance adjusters, like anyone else, can be held liable when they’re negligent.
In these cases, negligence means that the insurance adjuster failed to exercise a reasonable amount of caution in processing your claim, and you suffered harm because of it.
Breach of Contract Claims
Insurance policies are contracts. If you hold up your end of the bargain and pay your premiums on time, the insurance company should hold up its end. If they don’t, you can seek to hold them responsible for breach of contract.
How Much Does It Cost To Hire a Lawyer to Handle a Bad Faith Insurance Claim in Florida?
When you hire our law firm, you’ll agree to pay us a percentage of your settlement or verdict we recover for you. This is the same contingency fee model used by most personal injury firms. That way, there aren’t any upfront costs, nor are there any hourly rates.
With a contingency fee, we don’t get paid for our work unless we successfully handle your case. You’ll also be in a position to hire any attorney you’d like for your case, regardless of your finances.
What Types of Damages Are Available to Victims of Bad Faith Insurance Practices in St. Petersburg?
Your damages award may include compensation for things like:
- The value of your legitimate insurance claim that was denied or undervalued
- Interest, if you paid the loss on your own
- Attorney’s fees
- Court costs
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Property damage caused by the delay
- Lost income
- Medical costs if the ordeal caused damage to your health
- Pain and suffering
- Inconvenience
- Frustration
- Anxiety
- Stress
Both economic damages and non-economic damages may be available. In the end, the damages you receive will depend on the type of losses you suffered.
What is the Deadline for Filing a Bad Faith Insurance Lawsuit in Florida?
You have five years to file a lawsuit for bad faith insurance practices.
Florida law also requires that you give the insurance company 60 days’ notice before filing a lawsuit. The 60-day period is a “cure period”. It gives the insurance company the opportunity to fix its mistake before a lawsuit becomes necessary.
You can proceed with your claim if the insurance company fails to take action within the cure period. There are exceptions to these deadlines, but only in rare cases. Contact our bad faith insurance attorneys in St. Petersburg as soon as you can for help filing your claim on time.
Schedule a Free Consultation With an Experienced St. Petersburg Bad Faith Insurance Attorney Today
Insurance is meant to provide protection when you need help the most. If your insurance company failed you, contact an experienced St. Petersburg bad faith insurance attorney right away. Our team at Perenich, Caulfield, Avril & Noyes Personal Injury Lawyers will get to work maximizing your compensation.
