Insurance Bad Faith Attorneys in Kansas City

Has an Auto Insurer Failed to Pay a Legitimate Claim?

Auto insurance companies have a legal responsibility to act in good faith and treat insured policyholders and individuals fairly as outlined by their contractual agreement. This obligation is called an “implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing,” which is required and specified in every insurance contract. If an auto insurance company fails to live up to these terms by rejecting a legitimate claim filed by someone who was in a car accident, though, the claimant likely has the right to sue for damages.

Has an auto insurance company rejected your claim and denied your settlement? Now is the time to retain an insurance bad faith lawyer. If you live in Kansas City, start by coming to Shamberg, Johnson & Bergman and speaking with our insurance bad faith attorneys who focus on complex, high-stakes claims involving wrongfully denied auto insurance claims. Our legal team has long been known in the legal community as among the best trial attorneys in the Midwest.

The recognition that certain members of our team have received includes the following and more:

• AV Preeminent® Rating by Martindale-Hubbell®
• Listed in “The Best Lawyers in America Directory”
• Top 10 and Top 50 Super Lawyers in Kansas, Missouri, and Kansas City

Want to talk to a Kansas City attorney about auto insurance bad faith? Call (816) 542-5999 or contact Shamberg, Johnson & Bergman online now.

Auto Insurance Bad Faith Practices

An auto insurer may be acting in bad faith if the insurance company:

• Postpones, reduces, or denies payment without a reasonable basis for doing so
• Neglects to respond promptly to notification of a covered claim
• Fails to adequately investigate a claim
• Deceives or misrepresents the facts to avoid paying claims
• Attempts to distort or misinterpret policy language to avoid coverage
• Demonstrates unreasonable delay in resolving a claim without explanation
• Uses an improper or unreasonable standard to deny a claim
• Refuses to pay a settlement after it has been agreed upon or ordered by a court

As can be seen, auto insurance bad faith can take many forms. At Shamberg, Johnson & Bergman in Kansas City, our attorneys focus on intricate cases that other law firms might not be prepared to handle, as well as cases with high values, which usually means the auto insurance company will pull out all the stops to try to avoid paying a settlement. When that happens, you can be sure that we’ll be ready with significant resources and experience of our own.

Can Auto Insurers Deny UM/UIM Coverage?

If you bought uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) insurance for your auto insurance policy, then you should be covered in case you get hit by a driver with no insurance or not enough to cover your damages. To get the missing coverage, you will have to file a claim against your insurance provider, in addition to any claim you might be able to file against them and their insurance company. Problems can arise if your auto insurer rejects your first-party claim. Unless the auto insurance company that sold you the UM/UIM policy has a legitimate reason for denying your first-party claim, it might be engaging in insurance bad faith tactics.

Our bad faith insurance claim attorneys can remind them of their obligation to you and demand compensation to be paid immediately under the threat of a lawsuit. We may even need to remind them that insurance bad faith tactics can sometimes constitute a criminal offense, which we would have no problem reporting to the correct authorities if that is the case. When it comes to upholding our clients’ rights and recoveries after an accident, we take the gloves off.

Does Your Insurer Have to Defend You If You Cause an Accident?

When you are in an accident that you caused or think you might have caused, your auto insurance provider is contractually bound to defend you against lawsuits filed against you and your policy. It could be an act of insurance bad faith if your auto insurer tries to remove itself from the claim. Your insurer must also eventually agree to settle or pay for damages that are within the limits of your policy coverage, which means the insurer can’t pay a smaller amount (than what is set in the limit) and put you on the hook for what remains.

What Do You Do If Your Insurer Won’t Pay?

Auto insurance companies sell their policies under the agreement that they will pay coverage to policyholders when they have been in a car accident. However, as our Kansas City insurance bad faith lawyers can tell you from helping so many clients throughout the years, it is frustratingly common for auto insurance companies to try to sell their own policyholders short.

When an auto insurer, including your own, won’t pay for damages as expected under relevant insurance policies, you should:

• Get copies of your full insurance policy, including exceptions and addendums.
• Speak with an insurance bad faith lawyer from our firm and give them a copy of the policy.
• Discuss your options for challenging the insurance company’s decision.
• Prepare for litigation with the help of our attorneys.

Learn More About Your Options Without Paying Anything Upfront

At Shamberg, Johnson & Bergman in Kansas City, we are highly experienced in handling bad faith claims against auto insurance companies, including major brands and corporations that sell policies nationwide. Since 1949, we’ve successfully represented clients who have been denied settlements without proper cause. We are ready to fight to protect your contractual rights and get you the settlement that you deserve. You can begin with a free case evaluation to discuss your options at no upfront cost to you.

Call us at (816) 542-5999 and speak with an insurance bad faith lawyer from our firm.