Do you have an insurance claim and need help figuring out the best way to proceed? If so, you have come to the right place. At Cook, Bradford & Levy, LLC, our Boulder insurance lawyers have helped thousands of people just like you successfully resolve claims against the insurance industry. Whether you have been in an accident and are wondering what value hiring an attorney will add to your case, or if you are simply wondering whether the offer you have received is fair, we invite you to call us today at 303-543-1000 for a free consultation about your case.
Navigating the Insurance Claims ProcessAt Cook, Bradford & Levy, LLC, our Boulder insurance claims attorneys have over 50 years of collective experience going head-to-head with industry giants like State Farm, Farmers, GEICO, Allstate, Travelers, USAA, Progressive, and more. Over the years we have developed the knowledge and skills that helps keep these insurance companies accountable when they are evaluating an accident or property claim. But not every insurance claim is handled the same way. A good insurance claims lawyer will look at the unique circumstances of each case and develop a strategy for claim resolution tailored to each client. For example, depending on whether the issue your having is with an at-fault driver’s insurance carrier, your rights and responsibilities might differ than if the claim is against your own insurance carrier.
Claims Against the At-Fault’s Insurance CompanyIn the insurance world, the insurance carrier for negligent party to an accident is know as the liability carrier. Generally speaking, if you are the accident victim, the liability carrier does not owe you a duty to treat you fairly in the claims process. This means that even after submitting your medical bills, lost wages, and other damages to the liability carrier they may try to offer you only a fraction of the value of your claim. When that happens, your recourse is generally through the court system, where you or your claims attorney files suit against the at-fault party even though it is the insurance company, and not the defendant, that is usually (but not always) liable to pay any damages and defend the lawsuit.
In situations where the liability carrier fails to pay you the fair value of your case, it is essential that you consider hiring an insurance claims attorney with experience litigating in the courtroom. At Cook, Bradford & Levy, our lawyers have filed suit and litigated hundreds of cases across Colorado and other states that were successfully resolved through mediation or a jury trial. Our Boulder injury lawyers are fearless and aggressive advocates with a track-record of taking on corporate giants and leveling the playing field for our clients.
Claims Against Your Own Insurance CompanyDifferent duties and obligations govern the relationship between an insurance company and a person (or tangible property) that it insures. An insured usually has at least some duty to cooperate with his or her insurance carrier so that it can perform its obligations in the claims process. By the same token, however, insurers have to handle claims from its own insured in a fair and reasonable manner. This typically means that the claim process must include prompt investigation and evaluation, be honest, possess a degree of transparency, be based on facts and not speculation, avoid clearly biased information, and should not deny a claim without substantial justification, among many, many other factors.
An insurance carrier’s duties toward its insured can be found in Colorado statute, including but not limited to Colorado’s Unfair Claims Settlement Practices law (Colo. Rev. Stat. § 10-2-1104), as well as dozens of court cases that Colorado courts have issued over the years.
Insurance Bad Faith and Unreasonable Delay or DenialAt their core, insurance companies have one goal: to make money. This means that they often put their profits over the duties they owe to the people and businesses they insure. When an insurance carrier violates its duty to act in good faith and perform fair and reasonable claims evaluations, the person it insures may have valid claims against their own insurance company.
Claims against insurance carriers generally fall under two categories: a tort claim of “Bad Faith Breach of Insurance Contract” or in a statutory claim of Unreasonable Delay or Denial of Insurance Benefits (found at Colo. Rev. Stat. § 10-3-1115, 1116). Depending on which actions you bring, if you are successful in proving your case the insurance company can be forced to pay your attorney fees, costs, and two times the amount of the benefit the insurance carrier should have covered.
The field of insurance bad faith and unreasonable delay or denial is complex, and an experienced Boulder insurance claims lawyer can help you determine whether you have a claim and develop a strategy for pursuing it.
Help with Insurance ClaimsAt Cook, Bradford & Levy, LLC, we are skilled and knowledgeable insurance claims attorneys serving the Boulder area and beyond. If you need help with your insurance claim, we invite you to contact our office today at 303-543-1000 for a free consultation on your case. We look forward to serving you!