Seattle Insurance / Bad Faith
Insurance companies are supposed to honor their policies; you pay premiums on the assumption that you will receive financial compensation for certain unforeseen crises or accidents. However, when an insurance company attempts to deny benefits for valid claims, this is known as insurance bad faith – and it’s illegal under Washington law.
If your insurance company is denying a valid insurance claim in Seattle, Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond, Edmonds, Mercer Island, Sammamish, Renton, Lynnwood, Federal Way, Burien, Everett, Auburn, Kent, Issaquah, Tacoma or anywhere in Washington State, and you need legal representation or advice, contact Kenneth Selander, Jr. immediately. Call 1-866-681-0002 toll-free or submit an online contact form.
Washington Insurance Fair Conduct Act (Referendum 67)
The Washington Insurance Fair Conduct Act (IFCA), which took effect on Dec. 6, 2007, requires insurance companies to act reasonably when settling claims – or face policyholder lawsuits and triple damages. This legislation passed despite substantial lobbying from insurance companies that claimed the law would lead to an increase in false claims and frivolous lawsuits. However, the Washington State Insurance Commissioner’s office and the citizens of Washington disagreed – and now you have rights when an insurance company tries to deny your claim.
In order to meet the criteria of “bad faith” your claim must be with your own insurance policy (not, for instance, the insurance company of another driver or homeowner). The insurance company must have denied your claim without a valid reason. This requires a careful examination of your policy, as many policies contain very specific and confusing language about what is considered a “valid” grounds for denying benefits. Also, if your insurance company does deny your claim, you must give 20 days’ notice of your intention to sue to allow the insurer one last chance to resolve your claim.
Our Experience
Kenneth Selander, Jr. of Selander O’Brien PLLC has represented injury victims in Washington for more than two decades. In our years of practice we’ve come to know all the tactics employed by insurance companies to avoid paying claims – from refuting the severity of your injury to claiming you were responsible for the harm you suffered. If you have paid for an insurance policy, the insurance company has established a legal relationship with you. You have honored your commitment by paying premiums – and the insurance company has a legal obligation to honor its commitment as well.
With more than 20 years of experience in all kinds of injury claims, Kenneth Selander, Jr. has built his reputation aggressively and ethically fighting for the legal rights of victims and their families. In fact, Washington Law & Politics Magazine has named Kenneth Selander, Jr. a SuperLawyer. That honor is conferred on only the top 5% of attorneys in Washington State.
Ken has earned the respect of the legal community. In fact, when another attorney needed help with an injury claim, he turned to Ken. Here's what that attorney said about Ken's results: "I'm an attorney, and I retained Ken after he was recommended by other attorneys. Ken worked hard for me and got me the result I needed. I would not hesitate to retain Ken to represent me again."
Our Commitment
When you contact the law firm of Selander O'Brien PLLC, you ensure that your case receives the full commitment of a skilled legal team. We handle each case on an individual basis, and we treat you and your family with the respect and compassion you deserve. We also do not charge attorney fees unless we recover damages for your case.
If your insurance company is denying a valid insurance claim in Seattle, or anywhere in Washington State, contact Kenneth Selander, Jr. today by calling 1-866-681-0002 toll-free or submit an online contact form.
