Coverage Lawyer in Chicago IL
What is bad faith litigation?
Childress, Loucks, & Plunkett’s coverage lawyer in Chicago IL handles bad faith litigation cases for claimants whose insurance companies have failed them. They have failed because despite the customer’s claim being legitimate, and despite the carrier’s legal obligation to act in good faith by providing fair compensation, they have refused to uphold their legal responsibility. There are many scenarios that involve bad faith litigation. Here are a few common examples:
- An individual or a family purchases an insurance policy for their home, car, boat, healthcare, etc. and files a claim after a loss. The claim is unfairly denied. With the help of their coverage lawyer in Chicago IL, the claimant files a bad faith lawsuit against the carrier.
- A company or business purchases insurance coverage for their commercial building, liability protection, umbrella business coverage, etc. and files a claim after a loss. The insurance company denies the claim or else offers compensation that is only a modest percentage of the actual damages. The company hires a coverage lawyer in Chicago IL, such as one from Childress, Loucks, & Plunkett, and pursues bad faith litigation against the carrier.
Is it really necessary to hire a coverage lawyer in Chicago IL to help me with my claim?
Unfortunately, sometimes it’s necessary to enlist the help of a seasoned coverage lawyer in Chicago IL in order to protect your rights as a policyholder. Should your case escalate to litigation, you can be confident that the insurance company will have not just a lawyer but a team of lawyers. If you decide to handle your case on your own, you will likely lose and not only may you not get any settlement at all, you will have to pay court costs and possibly the defendant’s lawyer fees. Our coverage lawyer in Chicago IL uses all available resources to protect our clients’ best interests. Give us a call today to discuss the details of your case with our coverage lawyer during a free and confidential consultation.
Can I file a lawsuit after agreeing to a settlement offer?
Immediately upon signing the acceptance offer, you automatically lose your right to pursue litigation against the insurance company because there will surely be a clause in the agreement that precludes you from suing them. This will hold true even if you discover additional damages that you wish to include in your claim. It simply won’t be possible and those damages will have to be paid out of your own pocket. Before agreeing to a settlement, contact us at Childress, Loucks, & Plunkett. Our coverage lawyer in Chicago IL can review the offer from your insurance company and let you know if we might be able to negotiate a higher amount on your behalf. Should we enter into negotiations and the insurance company refuses to act in good faith, you will still have the option to pursue a lawsuit if it becomes necessary.
Protect Your Rights: Contact Childress, Loucks, & Plunkett
To learn more about how our coverage lawyer in Chicago IL may be able to help you, call our office to schedule a free consultation.
Settling Homeowners Insurance Claims and Disputes with a Lawyer
If you have suffered a huge loss after a fire, theft, flood, or other disaster, you will likely be ready to file an insurance claim. However, you might not understand what your rights are or whether you can trust your insurance company to give you the full reimbursement you need. This is understandable, especially because your interests and those of your insurance company are in direct opposition: you want a maximum payout, but your insurance company probably wishes to offer you a minimum. In fact, when you make an insurance claim, you are essentially going to go through your own business negotiation. Even though you have been paying a premium every month to protect your personal belongings in the case of an unfortunate incident, you might have to fight for your compensation. You might even need help from an insurance coverage lawyer who can fight for you.
Dealing with Homeowners Insurance Companies
If you are finding yourself at an impasse with your homeowners insurance company, you may want to talk to the Chicago IL insurance lawyers at Childress Loucks & Plunkett. It’s likely that you’ve encountered at least one of the following situations:
- Your insurance company is denying your claim entirely for one reason or another
- There is a disagreement about what your policy covers
- Your homeowners insurance company wants to pay less than what your losses are worth
- You have reached your limits on homeowners insurance coverage
If you feel like you are in a predicament and cannot reach a settlement amicably, hiring a trusted homeowners insurance lawyer might be a good idea.
Filing a Suit Before Agreeing to a Settlement Offer
In general, if you agree to settle a claim with your homeowners insurance company, you will not be able to file a lawsuit. This is because during the settlement process, you will likely be asked to sign an agreement that prevents you from suing them. This includes releasing the company from having to cover any further payments on the specific claim after they have provided you with compensation.
There are a few circumstances that could allow you to bring legal action against the insurance company after you agreed to a settlement. This is often limited to errors or different interpretations in the language used or process that ensued. Another reason to file a lawsuit after a settlement might be if the settlement agreement was not written correctly or did not state your legal options. The latter two reasons are very unlikely. If you do not understand what you are signing, it may be advisable to have a homeowners insurance lawyer review the language before agreeing to or signing anything.
Filing a Homeowners Insurance Lawsuit with a Lawyer
If you are unable to reach a settlement with your insurance company, legal action might be possible. No matter the cause of your problems, understanding the full extent of your coverage and negotiating a fair value of your claim is something that an insurance coverage lawyer can do for you. If you would like to learn more about what options are available to you, please call Childress Loucks & Plunkett.
What You Can Do to Help Your Claim
Even a small error could cause your claim to be excluded from coverage. During the process of a homeowners insurance claim, you should do the following:
Take Notes – Any time you speak to the insurance company, write down the date, time, and names of the people you talk to.
Take Pictures – Make sure to take as many pictures as possible of damages and repairs. This is not limited to the initial damage, but also to damage that might worsen overtime and also to repairs that were made.
Talk with a Lawyer – Before you agree to settle, it will be a good idea to get advice from an insurance lawyer. As soon as you retain their services, it is prudent that you cut your direct communications with your insurance company. Rest assured your lawyer will be able to take care of all the necessary correspondence.
Contact Childress Loucks & Plunkett
If you are in a dispute with your insurance company and need help from a respected coverage lawyer in Chicago IL, please call our office today for a consultation.