What Is Insurance Bad Faith?
Insurance bad faith occurs when your insurer unreasonably delays, denies, or underpays a valid claim. Rather than acting in good faith to honor your policy, the company prioritizes its own bottom line—leaving you without the benefits you paid for.
Common Types of Bad Faith Conduct
- Unreasonable Denial: Rejecting your claim without a legitimate basis or despite clear coverage.
- Unjustified Delay: Failing to investigate or resolve your claim within a reasonable timeframe.
- Lowball Settlements: Offering far less than the policy limits despite strong evidence of entitlement.
- Misrepresentation: Providing misleading information about your policy terms or coverage.
- Failure to Defend: Refusing to defend you in a liability claim covered under your policy.
Statute of Limitations
Under Georgia law, you generally have two years from the date of the insurer’s bad-faith act to file a lawsuit. Because insurers often count days differently, consult an attorney promptly to preserve your right to sue.
How to Protect Your Rights
- Document Everything: Keep all correspondence, claim numbers, and notes from calls or meetings.
- Demand a Written Explanation: If your claim is denied or delayed, request the insurer’s rationale in writing.
- File an Internal Appeal: Exhaust the insurer’s internal review process before suing.
- Preserve Deadlines: Be aware of appeal and lawsuit filing deadlines in your policy and under state law.
- Consult an Experienced Attorney: A lawyer can evaluate whether your insurer’s conduct crosses the line into bad faith.
How Gunn Law Group Can Help
- Thorough Case Review: We analyze your policy, claim history, and insurer communications to identify bad-faith acts.
- Formal Demand & Negotiation: We prepare demand letters and negotiate aggressively to resolve your claim without litigation.
- Litigation Expertise: If the insurer refuses to act in good faith, we file suit and seek both your policy benefits and additional damages for bad faith.
- Client-First Service: We handle the complex procedural requirements and keep you informed every step of the way.
Don’t let your insurer get away with bad-faith tactics. Call Gunn Law Group at 888-BIG-GUNN (888-244-4866) for a free consultation and hold your insurance company accountable.
