Is Your Insurance Company Refusing To Pay Or Acting In Bad Faith?
Insurance companies love taking our money but loathe paying it out. Often, they will use underhanded and sometimes even illegal tactics to reduce the amount they have to pay – or to pay nothing at all. When an insurance company is doing so in “bad faith,” you have a right to claim compensation for the money they owe you and the harm caused to you and your home or other property.
For example, in Washington, especially in Seattle and popular areas like Tacoma, home insurance premiums and costs are rising rapidly in response to inflation, climate risks, reinsurance costs, and, of course, corporate greed. Gouging customers is not the only trick in the insurance company’s playbook, however. When it comes time to pay up on those insurance policies, companies will ignore claims, blame you, undervalue the damage, or pretend their policy does not cover such damages.
Such behavior needs to be punished, and that is what insurance bad faith claims are all about. With the help of a skilled bad-faith insurance lawyer, you can hold them accountable by making a claim against the insurance company. If they do not settle the claim and pay what they owe you, attorney Eric Chavez of the AXION Law Group can help you take them to court to make sure you receive the financial compensation you need and deserve.
Eric Chavez And The AXION Law Group: Your Tacoma Insurance Bad Faith Claim Lawyer
Insurance bad faith attorney Eric Chavez didn’t always fight for wronged claimants. Even before becoming a lawyer, he worked as an adjuster for some of the West Coast’s largest insurers. Minimizing payouts and avoiding false claims made sense to him, and defending insurance companies’ clients was understandable, even if not always pleasant. But over time, the nature of that work became harder to continue.
When he started his legal career, Eric continued to work for insurance companies, defending them and their clients. However, nothing fully prepared him for bad faith cases. Defending insurers who were actively breaking the law or betraying their core duties was not an option—so he made a change.
Now, as an attorney, he uses the insider knowledge he gained from years of working with insurance companies to hold them accountable. Whether it’s life, health, auto, or any other type of insurance, he’s ready to take them on and advocate for your rights.
What Types Of Insurance Bad Faith Claims Does Our Firm Handle?
Every insurance company is bound by the same general rules and regulations, including an obligation to act in good faith and deal fairly with the people they insure. This holds true across all forms of insurance, which means any and all of them can also be guilty of acting in bad faith.
As one of Tacoma’s leading insurance bad faith attorneys, Eric Chavez takes on a wide range of insurance companies across various contexts. We can help you navigate bad faith insurance practices in the following areas:
Homeowner’s Insurance
If an insurance company unfairly blames you for damage caused by a natural disaster, such as flooding, we can step in.
Business Owner/Property Insurance
Your business is as important as your home. When insurance companies refuse to honor their promises or cover damages, we are here to help.
Business Interruption Claims
Excessive delays can harm your business financially. We work to ensure the insurance company compensates you for the losses you were unfairly forced to bear.
Underinsured & Uninsured Motorist Insurance
If you’re hit by a driver without adequate insurance and your policy includes coverage for these situations, we make sure your insurance company follows through on paying your medical costs and other compensation.
Failure To Defend Policyholder Claims
In Washington, insurance companies have a duty to defend their clients against claims of causing damage. If they fail to do so, this can also be considered bad faith and may be subject to legal action.
No insurance company or policy—from homeowner and business insurance to car insurance—is beyond our ability to hold accountable. With insurance companies reporting record profits, we know they have the means to pay the compensation you deserve. Our job is to ensure they do just that whenever we catch them acting in bad faith.
What Insurance Bad Faith Behaviors Should You Watch Out For?
Anytime a claim is delayed or denied, it is worth taking a second look at exactly why the insurance company believes they do not have to pay you. You know if your claim is genuine or not. If there is a denial, delay, or other interference in your ability to obtain the initial compensation you paid for all those years, you ought to talk to an insurance bad faith claim lawyer to see if you have grounds to sue.
In our decades of experience handling insurance bad faith claims, we have seen nearly every possible bad faith strategy, tactic, and action. This can look like:
- Denying a claim they know to be valid or have evidence might be.
- Delaying or diminishing a claim without justified cause.
- Insufficiently investigating a claim they are responsible to look into.
- Threatening you to convince you to drop a claim.
- Refusing to make a fair settlement offer or to defend against a lawsuit when you are under fire.
- Deliberately or maliciously interpreting an insurance policy to avoid having to pay.
- And more…
If you are unsure whether an insurance company’s denial or delay is an act of bad faith but have reason to suspect it, an experienced insurance bad faith attorney can help you determine your next steps. Insurance companies often rely on your lack of familiarity with their practices to push through these bad-faith actions. By having a lawyer on your side, you ensure they are held accountable.
Winning your claim or securing a fair settlement doesn’t just protect you—it helps safeguard others in Tacoma and across the state from falling victim to similar tactics.
Get A Tacoma Washington Insurance Bad Faith Attorney On Your Side
We can only help secure your compensation and defend your rights if we hear about your case, and the best way to ensure that happens is by contacting us directly. We’re always vigilant for signs of insurance misconduct and are ready to investigate any concerns you have about how your claim or defense was handled.
If you suspect an insurance company of bad faith behavior, call a claim lawyer at our firm in Tacoma, Washington, today at (253) 339-8500. Time is crucial in building your case, and every moment you save by booking a free consultation online brings you one step closer to getting the compensation you deserve.
