What is a Bad Faith Claim?

When insurance companies act in bad faith,
plaintiffs can be entitled to three times the compensation for their damages. In North Carolina, when you file a claim with
your insurance company, your insurance company has a duty to act reasonably in that they
must investigate without undue delay. They must recognize and pay valid claims,
and they must not make fraudulent misrepresentations about your claim. Generally, they can't bully you. Proving bad faith in North Carolina requires
you to show that the insurance company took too long on your claim or they didn't pay
you when they were supposed to, or they just lied to you. If an insurance company is found to be in
bad faith, the plaintiff is entitled to treble damages or three times compensation for the
harm they suffered. For example, if you were in a car accident
and your car was totaled, you filed a claim with your insurance company and they wrongfully
denied it and were found to be in bad faith and you had to purchase a new vehicle with
your own money.

The insurance company could be forced to pay
you for three times the amount that that new vehicle cost. If your insurance company has taken too long
with your claim or you feel that your claim has been wrongfully denied, give me a call
and we can talk about bad faith insurance claims..