Orange County Insurance Bad Faith Attorney

What is Insurance Bad Faith?

Insurance bad faith, also known as “insurance fraud” is the term used to describe the mistreatment of consumers and businesses by insurance carriers.

Unfortunately, insurance bad faith is a common occurrence in Orange County. Insurance fraud — which is essentially deceit or unfair dealing — includes the different ways in which an insurance carrier frustrates the insured’s right to receive the proper insurance benefits stated in their contract. Common examples are:

  • The insurance company denies the insured individual, family or company the complete benefits listed in the policy
  • An insurer attempts to unjustifiably offer less compensation than what is due under the policy
  • The insurance carrier unreasonably delays payment to an insured (delaying is a common strategy that can be achieved by inadequate investigation(s) by the insurer, acts of claims adjusters, or coercive tactics, for example)

“In California, insurance cases involving property damage under $12,500 are typically handled in small claims court, a venue where parties generally cannot be represented by attorneys. While a wide range of actions can lead to bad faith liability, water damage, and homeowner’s insurance cases are among the most common inquiries our firm receives. At Aitken Aitken Cohn, we focus on catastrophic and significant property damage loss cases, particularly those involving repair or replacement costs exceeding $200,000 in damages.”

In every insurance contract, there is a stated or implied “covenant of good faith and fair dealing,” which means that both the insurance carrier and the insured party are to act fairly, with good faith, concerning the parameters of their contract. The insurance carrier is expected to fully compensate the insured in a timely manner when appropriate.

Compensatory and Punitive Damages

When an insurance company acts in bad faith, the conduct is legally actionable as a tort, or civil wrong. The insured can file a lawsuit against the insurance carrier, seeking compensation for the money owed (compensatory damages) and “punitive” damages (money that the insurance company must pay simply as punishment for their misdeeds).

How an Orange County Insurance Fraud Bad Faith Attorney Can Help

Because insurance fraud lawsuits can be confusing and complex, they require an experienced insurance fraud attorney to thoroughly examine your situation and fight for maximum compensation.

If you have been the victim of insurance fraud in Orange County, you should contact the experienced Orange County insurance fraud attorneys at Aitken * Aitken * Cohn.

Contact Aitken * Aitken * Cohn in Orange County Today

The Aitken Law Offices have been involved in several multi-million dollar insurance fraud verdicts and settlements and have been at the forefront of several landmark California court decisions that protect consumers from insurance bad faith. Contact our Orange County personal injury lawyers today to see how we can help you.

“Aitken Aitken Cohn was prompt and courteous throughout my entire case. Darren Aitken helped navigate me through a very tough time. He showed me how to advocate for my daughter and my family.”

L.G. – Client Review