Associate
I decided to shop for insurance after working on a couple of bad faith insurance cases, one of which involved my own insurance company. Yikes! A bad faith insurance claim occurs when an insurer unreasonably denies, delays, or underpays a legitimate claim, violating its duty of good faith and fair dealing towards the policyholder. Simply: you make a claim, the insurance company is supposed to pay, but it does not. It’s kind of like that John Grisham novel, rainmaker, where the insurance company doesn’t cover someone’s loss when it should have. Same type of principles except you cannot blame it on the rain (Milli Vanilli reference!)
Like any consumer, I watched commercials (yes, I watched commercials!), searched the web, and asked around. The companies used a lot of techniques to get my attention including slogans like securing my serenity, life assured, embracing my unpredictable future, making a lifetime commitment to me!, my neighbor, my friend, and lots of promises. I felt goosebumps about insurance (yikes again!)
But since I am a lawyer, I also have access to legal research tools. So, what I also did was look up the companies to see if they were as good and fair as their slogans suggested them to be. While insurance companies often parade out slogans to attract customers and convey a sense of trust, reliability, and emotional reassurance, a closer look reveals that these claims can be hollow.
After researching companies that use these slogans, I found that many have been sued for engaging in bad faith practices, failing to uphold the very promises their marketing campaigns make. This disconnect between the companies’ rhetoric and conduct underscores the importance of consumers being cautious and conducting thorough research when selecting an insurance provider, rather than simply falling for emotive slogans designed to win their business. Consumers should be wary of insurance companies that appear to prioritize marketing over genuine customer service and fair claims handling. These consumers by the way include businesses who rely on insurance just as many people do.
How do you do that? Who has time to do that let along access to legal research tools like me. I put on my consumer hat, pretended I did not know any of this stuff, and came up with a roadmap:
Check Out Reviews Online:
Think of it like choosing a movie based on ratings. Look up what others say about an insurance company on websites you trust. If a lot of people are unhappy with how their claims were handled or how they were treated, it might be a red flag.
Look Up Complaint Records:
Your state’s insurance department keeps a list of complaints against insurance companies. This is like a report card for them. You can see how well they’re doing in handling claims and treating their customers. And the best part? It’s free to check. (smiley emoji) https://fortress.wa.gov/oic/consumertoolkit/Search.aspx.
Really Understand Your Insurance Policy:
It’s like when you’re playing a new video game, and you read the instructions first. Know what your insurance covers, what it doesn’t (the exclusions), and how to ask for help when you need it. If something doesn’t make sense, don’t be shy to ask questions. Ask the company to give you a copy of a standard policy before you pay for one.
Use Social Media Wisely:
It’s like asking friends and followers for recommendations on the best burger place. Social media and forums can give you the scoop on insurance companies but remember to double-check the info you get.
These are just some of the tools I came up with. I have not decided what company to give my business to but from experience, I know many companies fail their insured. And when they do, the insured feel overwhelmed because they do not understand what is happening to them. When people feel overwhelmed, they give up. Consumers should not give up. American business is better than that. I cannot imagine what it is like to be in that situation. But if people are, they should consider legal consultation. Think of legal consultation as the final boss in a video game (King Koopa!). If nothing else works and you’re sure you’re right, you might need to talk to a lawyer who knows a lot about insurance. That’s the Stritmatter firm. The lawyers here–do just that. They put on their consumer hats and speak with you to see if you have been wronged by one of these insurance companies.