K. J. Petsas Personal Injury Law Blog on Lawyers.com

Attorneys help accident victims deal with insurance companies

Being injured in an automobile, truck, or other vehicle accident is bad enough. Your health, livelihood, and future may be on the line. Having trouble working with an insurance company can make an already difficult situation untenable.

What happens when your claim is not moving along, or you receive a settlement offer far below what you need for recovery? You may have lost wages from your injury, or have no transportation. How do you get help dealing with people who are supposed to be helping you?

Bad faith insurance company tactics in California

Every insurance contract is assumed to be made in good faith. Good faith means fair dealing with good intent. You pay insurance premiums in good faith and expect fair treatment if you need help in a crises.

When payment or assistance with an insurance claim is delayed, an insurance company may be dealing in bad faith. Types of bad faith insurance practices often seen by personal injury attorneys include the following:

• Failure to investigate a claim in a thorough and timely manner
• Claiming that the accident is not covered under a policy, when it actually is
• Concealing facts about a claim or about additional benefits available under the policy
• Delaying payment, offering a clearly inadequate settlement, or refusing to pay

Legal help for injury claims in San Mateo, San Francisco, and the Bay Area

When you are injured or have an auto accident in California, it is important to understand your rights. If your case is not handled reasonably or it is clear you are being treated inappropriately, contact an attorney experienced with personal injury law. A good lawyer can help in the following ways:

• Investigate the facts of a claim and discuss what to expect from negotiation and litigation
• Negotiate with the insurance company to resolve issues equitably or move the case to court
• Provide advice on appropriate compensation for an injury and assess any bad faith damages that may be recoverable

Being injured hurts. But bad faith dealings by insurance companies are not only insulting—they add to damages already experienced. If an insurance company is stonewalling you, retain experienced legal counsel to get your case and your life moving forward.

Contact us

Providing a unique combination of aggressive legal representation and strategic case analysis, the San Mateo personal injury lawyers at Petsas and Stephens, LLP offer clients a 30-year record of successfully handling injury claims for clients in San Francisco, San Mateo, and throughout the San Francisco Bay area. If you are injured in an auto or other accident or are pursuing an insurance claim, contact us to schedule a free, initial consultation to discuss your case at 650-624-8155. Our offices are located at 1475 Huntington Avenue, Suite 205, South San Francisco, CA 94080.