THE BEARD
LAW FIRM
Voted "Best Law Firm in 
Southern Illinois" in 2021

bad faith insurance claims

If your insurance company has engaged in unreasonable conduct when handling claims for you, or your loved one, you may be entitled to compensation.
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bad faith

insurance claims

The Illinois Insurance Code allows insurance customers to sue their own insurance companies when those insurance companies engage in unreasonable conduct when handling claims for their customers. The Illinois Insurance Code (215 ILCS 5/154.6) describes the types of conduct that an insurance company should avoid when handling a claim for its own customers. If an insurance company engages in this prohibited conduct, and it is determined that they did so in a manner that was “vexatious and unreasonable,” then the customer can be awarded their attorney fees and costs in addition to what amounts to statutory punitive damages.

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steps

to take

01
First, gather all of your evidence (documents, pictures, phone logs, letters) and draft a timeline for all the important events related to the claim you filed with your insurance company. Important events include the facts underlying the claim, the date you first reported it to your insurance company, how you reported it to the company. What was their response? How did they respond? Letter? Phone call? Email? If they denied your claim, did they give you a written explanation? If they offered much less than the claim is worth, did they give you an itemized explanation of their offer?
02
Second, contact an experienced attorney sooner, rather than later. There are numerous issues that factor into whether or not a bad faith case is viable. The sooner you get an attorney involved, the more likely you are to avoid making a mistake that can hurt your case.

Why Choose Us

Oftentimes, these unscrupulous insurance companies are experts at delaying and misdirecting their own customers in an effort to avoid paying on valid claims. Their representatives will lie to the customer about their rights under the insurance contract. An attorney experienced with these types of cases can force the insurance company to honor their contract or pay considerable sums of money in statutory damages. 

The experienced attorneys at the Beard Law Firm live and work in Southern Illinois. We are already familiar with most of the insurance companies that are the worst offenders and we have successfully prosecuted claims against many of them. 

If you or someone you love is getting the run around from their own insurance company, call the Beard Law Firm for a free consultation at (618)-351-1000. An experienced attorney will discuss your case with you and help you figure out the best way to move forward. If it is outside normal business hours, leave a voicemail or email us at the address listed on this site. An experienced attorney will usually call you back before the next business day.
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Beard Law Firm

frequently asked questions

  • Q:  What constitutes a bad faith claim? 

    A: Generally speaking, if your own insurance company fails to interact with you in a reasonable manner, you may have a case. Common examples of bad faith include failure to reply to your phone calls and emails, failure to properly investigate the claim, denying the claim for unreasonable grounds, unreasonable “low ball” offers, or other actions designed to delay the process and make you give up.
  • Q: How long do I have to proceed with legal action for a bad faith claim 

    A: In Illinois, you have two years to file suit from either: 1. the date that the insurance company breached its duty to act in good faith, or 2.the date that the insurance company denied your claim.
  • Q:  How do I file a bad faith claim?

    A:  Keep records of your communications with your insurance company. Try to create an accurate timeline of what happened throughout the life of the claim. Most importantly, call an experienced attorney for a consultation.
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