Rapid City Bad Faith Insurance Attorneys

Stop Unfair Insurance Company Practices in South Dakota

Insurances companies are legally obligated to honor the terms of the policies under which they operate. These companies are happy to take the money paid to them in premiums. Thus, they should supply policyholders with the benefits paid for under those policies. You should not get the runaround, delays, or denials of valid claims. However, some companies take advantage of you through unreasonable behavior that has come to be termed “insurance bad faith.”

You may be facing an inability to work, have piles of medical bills from a workplace or car accident, or some other disaster. In these cases, you can turn to Zephier & LaFleur. Our laws provide protection if you are being treated unfairly by your insurer. Don’t argue alone. Let us use our decades of experience in resolving civil matters involving insurers. We can help you navigate workers’ compensation and other insurance laws that can help you recover. If an insurer refuses to handle your claim fairly, you may be entitled to damages above and beyond your ordinary insurance benefits. Our experienced attorneys and staff can help with this critical issue. 

Contact Zephier & LaFleur for a free consultation with a Rapid City bad faith insurance lawyer at (605) 349-1993 or by emailing us online. 

How Do Insurance Companies Commit Bad Faith?

Bad faith actions or omissions can be committed in various ways, such as:

• Failing to investigate your claim promptly, reasonably, or adequately
• Unjustly delaying payment or "lowballing" your claim
• Unreasonably refusing payment on a claim
• Using unreasonable interpretations in translating policy language
• Being dishonest with you about your claim
• Using harassment or demeaning or intrusive investigation procedures
• Failing to respond concerning coverage of a claim within a reasonable time after you have filed your claim with proof of loss
• Retaliating against you after you have made a claim by unfairly raising your premiums or canceling your policy 

Insurance policies are legal contracts. When insurers try to avoid or deny their legal obligations under these contracts, it can amount to a breach of contract, a breach of their duty to act in good faith, or an unfair trade practice. For example, offering you a lowball settlement that fails to pay out what your claim is worth so as to preserve their profits over your rights is an unfair trade practice. 

Bad faith in insurance can apply to any type of insurance coverage, from homeowner’s policies to auto insurance, worker’s compensation, long-term care insurance, and more. At Zephier & LaFleur, we handle all types of bad faith insurance matters. We never represent insurers, only customers and policyholders.