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Insurance Bad Faith

The Orlando based Woodward Law Firm assists auto owners, homeowners, business owners, condominium associations, and their representatives, recover damages caused by insurance companies’ bad faith conduct and unfair practices when adjusting insurance claims in Central Florida and throughout the State of Florida.

The purchase of insurance is supposed to provide you with peace of mind and security in the event of a loss, damage or injury that is covered by the policy.  However, sometimes recovering benefits under the insurance policy is not enough because the insurance company has refused to treat you fairly and honestly.

An insurance company must understand the terms of its own policy and investigate to determine if there is potential coverage under the policy. The key terms in insurance policies are often subject to judicial interpretation, so sometimes understanding the policy may require understanding the law, including such matters as federal and state statutes and particular local rules of law.  Orlando lawyer, Hew Woodward, can help you interpret the insurance policy and Florida’s bad faith claims handling statutes, so that you understand your rights.

 

An insurance company must understand the terms of its own policy and investigate to determine if there is potential coverage under the policy. The key terms in insurance policies are often subject to judicial interpretation, so sometimes understanding the policy may require understanding the law, including such matters as federal and state statutes and particular local rules of law.  Orlando lawyer, Hew Woodward, can help you interpret the insurance policy and Florida’s bad faith claims handling statutes, so that you understand your rights.

 

An insurance company must understand the terms of its own policy and investigate to determine if there is potential coverage under the policy. The key terms in insurance policies are often subject to judicial interpretation, so sometimes understanding the policy may require understanding the law, including such matters as federal and state statutes and particular local rules of law.  Orlando lawyer, Hew Woodward, can help you interpret the insurance policy and Florida’s bad faith claims handling statutes, so that you understand your rights.

An insurance company must objectively, honestly and fairly investigate a claim before it denies or underpays a claim.  It cannot reasonably and in good faith deny payments to you without a prompt and thorough investigation of the claim before issuing a claim denial.  An investigation in good faith requires an honest attempt to discover the answers to questions that have been raised, in a timely manner.  The insurance company is required to investigate a claim thoroughly and objectively, not simply in order to prove that there is no coverage.  Your insurance company cannot jump to a conclusion on the basis of particular evidence and then perform a perfunctory investigation to prove-up its conclusion.  The duty to investigate persists even after your insurance company has discovered facts that, in the insurer’s judgment, tends to disprove coverage.  The failure to investigate is evidence of an unreasonable denial of a claim.

The insurance company must also promptly conclude its investigation and cannot unreasonably withhold payments that are due and owing under the insurance policy.  The insurance company is required to provide payment of all undisputed amounts due and owing on a claim in a timely manner. The insurance company cannot unreasonably delay payment or issue low-ball payments on a claim.  When you submit a claim to the insurance company, it owes you a duty to thoroughly and objectively investigate the claim, and promptly issue payment on all amounts due and owing under the policy.

The reasons that an insurance company may unreasonably deny or delay payment on your claim may be attributed to greed, improper training, or failure to supervise its adjusters.  The insurance company’s bad faith may entitle you to additional damages, beyond the recovery of the benefits under the insurance policy.  Orlando lawyer, Hew Woodward, can review your claim and help you evaluate the insurance company’s conduct.

If your insurance company has failed to act in good faith by denying payment to you, or has unreasonably delayed payment to which you are entitled under the coverages of the policy, then you may have grounds to receive financial compensation for damages caused by such conduct.  The Woodward Law Firm has recovered damages for insurer bad faith in Central Florida and throughout the State of Florida.  Whether in the courtroom or during settlement negotiations, we can provide valuable insight to help you evaluate bad faith damages against an insurance company.  

Dear Hew,
Thank you for staying and fighting for me for 2 1/2 years against 2 insurance companies. Most other attorneys would have given up but you persisted through countless depositions, trips in front of the judge and many hours preparing me for depositions and court. You took it all the way to jury selection and were prepared for trial. Just before the trial the 2 insurance companies folded right there in court and settled. You never gave up.

You saved my house and I can’t thank you enough.
Wishing you all the best,

Steven K.

Steven K. in Ormond Beach, FL

Homeowner

Hello Hew!  First of all, words can’t express our gratitude. As of this moment Steven is having a ‘waiting to exhale moment’…  It just hasn’t hit him yet…  LOL…  When I walked into our home tonight, it was a totally different feeling. I haven’t had that feeling since 1/31/2013.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart. You have no idea what this means or perhaps you do. With all due respect, I feel this; innately you are an advocate.. .  That’s your M.O. That’s just how you work…. What you do…. So without further ado,  I’ve dubbed you as ‘King Midas’ because you did make our dreams possible. You touched and poof, gold.   I can’t imagine what it’s like to walk in your shoes, but you have certainly gained our respect.  Again, thank you… Sincerely, Johnnie

Steven and Johnnie H. in Orlando, FL

Homeowners

Hi Hew,  The way you handled my case was done in a very professional manner and it took a long time to put it all together. And it did come together and that was thanks to your hard work.  As you know my time was split finding information for you to continue and taking care of my wife who was fighting a terminal disease. I even told you I was getting tired of fighting these people so, if we couldn’t settle it was time to let it go. And you went to work and I was never so surprised  as shortly after I sent you my email here came a settlement check.  I’ve no idea how you do what you do but, you do it well. And I need to say Hew you always asked how my wife was doing and I could tell you truly did care and we weren’t just another case.  Thank you Hew and I’d would call on you anytime I need someone I can trust.  Thank You, Frank

Frank K. in Leesburg, FL

Homeowner

Hew did a great job on not just 1 but all of them every time. I am still using this firm will not go anywhere else. The Woodward law firm was great have them on a case today as well Hew calls back and emails me when I need help on the case.

George G. in Orlando, FL

Homeowner

 

The initial consultation is free and you will pay no attorney fees unless we win or settle your case.  In most cases, we can make the insurance company pay all attorney fees and costs.

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The accounts of recent trials, verdicts and settlements contained in this website are intended to illustrate the experience of the law firm. Past, current and prospective clients may not obtain the same or similar results as each case is unique. No representation is made that the quality of the legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers. The information you obtain at this site is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice. You should consult an attorney for specific advice regarding your individual situation. The Woodward Law Firm welcomes your calls, communications and email, however, contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. Unless you have a counter-signed fee agreement, Hewett G. Woodward nor The Woodward Law Firm is your attorney and this is not legal advice. The Woodward Law Firm strives to protect the privacy of our visitors and clients, however, information provided through the web resources www.hgwlegal.com and www.thewoodwardlawfirm.com may not be private and confidential. The information that is collected via a form submission, phone call, email or live chat is not guaranteed to be secure and private and may not be private and confidential. Please do not communicate any confidential information until such time as an attorney-client relationship has been established.