We rely on insurance companies to honor their commitments to us, and fulfill their part of the bargain. Unscrupulous insurance companies often refuse to pay policyholders in an effort to reduce costs and maximize profits. Here are some commonly asked questions around insurance disputes and bad faith (Insurance Dispute Frequently Asked Questions):
Q: Whose insurance pays for damage in a car accident?
A: he answer to this question is not necessarily simple. The liability policy of the at-fault driver covers medical bills and property damage to people other than the policy holder, up to the limits in that driver’s policy. The at-fault driver’s own damage is covered only if he or she has additional optional coverage. Other drivers may also have additional coverage, to cover costs if they exceed the limits of the at-fault driver’s liability coverage.
Q: What happens if the insurance company disputes the validity of my claim?
A: When it comes to the kinds of large claims that can result from a serious car accident, this is unfortunately, relatively common. Some insurance companies will automatically deny large claims, knowing that some people will not understand how to protect their rights. Fighting an insurance company can be daunting, and it can be difficult. You need to be sure that you have someone experienced with these issues on your side.
Q: My insurance company wants me to sue the other driver from my car accident. Can they do that?
A: Yes. In fact, this is fairly routine. When a driver is considered to be at fault in a serious accident, the insurance company may make you sue the other driver, so that they then can try to recoup the money that they are paying out. If this happens, the insurance company should provide an attorney, but that lawyer’s job is to protect the insurance company, not you! It is still a good idea to consult with your own lawyer to make sure that your interests are being protected, as well as those of the insurance company.
Q: Someone told me that you can only sue a rich person, because “you can’t squeeze blood from a turnip.” Is this true?
A: It is true that obtaining a judgment in a lawsuit does not guarantee that you will ever see that money. If you sue someone who can’t pay, the court can’t force them to pay. But something that insurance companies don’t want you to know is that, in most car accident cases, there is an insurance company who is liable to cover the driver’s costs. This means that when you win a judgment against the at-fault driver, the money doesn’t come from the person, it comes from the insurance company; so whether the driver is rich or not is immaterial. This is a bit of a “dirty little secret”, because no one is allowed to mention the insurance company at trial.
f you have been seriously injured in a car accident that was caused by the negligent or reckless driving of someone else, contact a dedicated lawyer immediately to discuss your options. There are a lot of “dirty little secrets” that insurance companies don’t want you to know, that can make recovering financial compensation from your accident very difficult. The right attorney can help protect your rights, and recover financial compensation for medical bills, property damage, and lost wages.
At Hull & Zimmerman, we are committed to helping people get the money they are owed. We believe that insurance policies constitute an agreement between policyholder and carrier; when an insurance provider refuses to honor its commitment, it is in the wrong. To discuss your needs with our dedicated Denver insurance bad faith lawyers, please contact us today by calling (303) 423-1770.
At Hull & Zimmerman, P.C., we are honored to help accident victims in their time of need, and take our responsibility as personal injury lawyers incredibly seriously. We know how important it is for victims to secure the full and fair compensation they need following a serious accident, and that is why we take a hands-on, personalized approach to every case we handle.
awarded to a woman who was a victim of a car crash. The woman was driving the highway when the other driver approaching from the opposite direction lost control of his vehicle, crossed the center line and hit her head on. She suffered multiple broken bones, including her hip, pelvis, leg, and right arm. She missed several years of work as a result of her injuries. Read More
awarded to a woman who was the victim of a t-bone car crash. The client suffered multiple injuries. The most significant of which was a head injury. While she was ultimately able to return to work on a part-time basis, Plaintiff was never able to return to work on a full-time basis. Read More
settlement awarded to a lady who suffered a head injury. She slipped and fell in a slanted parking lot at her place of employment. Evidence demonstrated that the owner of the building had constructed a fence shading the parking lot such that ice was allowed to continuously accumulate during the winter months. Multiple people had fallen on the ice prior to the client’s fall. As a result of her injuries, Plaintiff was forced to take early retirement. Read More
awarded to a man whose vehicle was hit from behind by a semi. The injured party suffered back pain and rotator cuff tears in each shoulder and was forced to retire from his job doing road repair four years earlier. Read More
settlement (policy limits) awarded to a young man who lost his eye when another child shot an arrow into the air. Read More
settlement obtained for a man who was injured in a rear end automobile accident. He suffered a herniated disc in his low back which was not well resolved by surgery forcing him to leave his employment as an apartment maintenance manager. Read More
awarded to a gentleman in association with a workman’s compensation case. He initially sustained a head injury at work when attacked by a patient. Several years later, his condition worsened resulting in his inability to return to work in his usual job. Read More
settlement achieved in a legal malpractice case. The client initially suffered a herniated disc in her neck in association with an automobile accident. The attorney failed to file the lawsuit in a timely manner and the Plaintiff was initially denied her ability to achieve any monies from the original lawsuit. Read More
settlement awarded to a man who was a victim of an automobile accident. Plaintiff was a passenger who was rear-ended by another driver. Following the accident, he suffered a long term back injury. Read More
settlement awarded to a lady who aggravated a pre-existing back condition when she slipped and fell at the entrance to a casino. Read More
awarded to a woman who suffered a rotator cuff tear from an automobile accident. Read More