When Your Car Insurance Company Acts in Bad Faith
It’s springtime in Oklahoma, which means warm weather is in full swing. While there’s nothing quite like rolling down the car windows and going for a drive on a bluebird morning here in Green Country, it’s easy for some drivers to get a little too caught up in all that spring fever. From speedy drivers to solar glare, there are plenty of springtime hazards that threaten even the most careful drivers.
If you do end up involved in a springtime auto accident, you count on your auto insurance policy to cover the damage. But sadly, some insurers will try to weasel out of paying what’s due – a practice known as bad faith. At Tim Gilpin Law Office, we help victims of bad faith insurance get what they’re owed. Here’s what you need to know about bad faith auto insurance in Oklahoma.
Good Faith Versus Bad Faith
Anytime you pay an insurance company, you’re doing so with a belief that they’ll hold up their end of the bargain when you need them to pay out. For Oklahoma auto insurance companies, good faith means a commitment to investigate your claim and pay out anything they’re contractually obligated to pay. Since insurance companies make more money when they pay out less, some will go out of their way to avoid paying out claims.
These are just a few of the slippery methods some bad faith insurers will use to avoid paying up what they owe:
- Denying claims outright
- Undervaluing repair costs
- Delaying claim payment
- Hidden fees and policy misrepresentation
- Failure to renew future coverage
The Implications of Bad Faith Practices
Make no mistake – any attempt to cut their costs using deception to avoid paying out what you’re owed according to your contract constitutes a bad faith practice. And the consequences can be very real for drivers waiting on a greedy insurance company to cut them a check.
Most of us depend on our vehicles to get back and forth to work, take our kids to school, visit the doctor’s office, or even fulfill basic needs for our families. For most drivers, every day without a vehicle constitutes a hardship. It’s a hardship that only mounts when you’re in need of extra medical care after a car accident. No matter what your circumstances, every day your policy doesn’t pay up is one day too many.
Help for Your Bad Faith Auto Insurance Claim
If your insurance company is giving you the runaround or lowballing you on a claim, they’re most likely breaking the law. Fortunately, Oklahoma has regulations in place to protect drivers from just such abuses.
When arguing with the insurance company isn’t getting you anywhere, it’s time to call a bad faith insurance attorney like Tim Gilpin who understands your rights inside and out. Tim can help you read through the fine print of your policy and bring a claim that forces your insurance company to pay out. You may even be owed damages to cover additional expenses like pain and suffering.
Anytime you’re filing an auto insurance claim, be sure to follow these steps:
1. Look over your contract.
Keep a copy of your policy on file in your personal records. Anytime you’ve been involved in an auto accident, take the time to look over your policy before filing a claim – you’d be surprised at what your insurance company might be liable to cover.
2. Maintain records.
Keeping good records can be the difference that keeps bad faith insurers from weaseling out of payment. Keep a complete record of photos, receipts, and phone calls associated with your car accident claim.
3. Document insurance company interactions.
To keep your insurer from stringing you along with delays, take notes on every interaction with your insurance company.
4. Contact an attorney.
If you’re beginning to suspect that your insurance company is acting in bad faith, it’s time to call Tim Gilpin and begin the bad faith lawsuit process.
Get Help from Tim Gilpin
If you’ve been involved in an auto accident and you’re having a hard time getting the insurance company to pay out, give Tim a call. And remember: there’s no fee if there’s no recovery. Call Tim today at 918.583.8900 to get your legal evaluation started today.
