Retaining an attorney with experience litigating contract disputes is essential when an individual or business is embroiled in a contract dispute.  However, Florida’s civil remedy statute, which governs first party insurance bad faith litigation, increases the urgency of retaining an experienced insurance claims attorney.  Under Florida law, disputes between a policyholder and an insurer over coverage or adequate payment of a claim is not handled like other forms of civil litigation.  The Civil Remedy Statute prohibits certain insurance company conduct.  This law sets the parameters for litigation against insurance companies based on insurance bad faith claims.

There are a range of legal claims that can be brought against an insurer in Florida under the Civil Remedy Statute which include:

  • Denying valid claims
  • Engaging in deceptive or misleading acts
  • Lowballing claims payments
  • Delaying claims payments

Florida insurance companies frequently engage in certain types of practices that might constitute bad faith practices, such as:

  • Denying a claim under one section of a policy to extort a lower settlement under another provision
  • Refusing to settle a claim that in good faith should have been settled
  • Attempting to settle a claim for less that the full value of a claim without sufficient investigation or explanation
  • Threatening to bring criminal charges of insurance fraud or arson to discourage legitimate claims
  • Causing unjustified delays and oppressive use of requests for information or documents to drag out the claims process and impose pressure on an insured
  • Scouring a policy to find a “colorable” claim to deny coverage rather than reviewing the policy with an eye toward language providing coverage
  • Failing to return phone calls or respond to written correspondence from an insured regarding the status of a claim

You can reach Miami Insurance Claims Lawyer J.P. Gonzalez-Sirgo by dialing his direct number at (786) 272-5841, calling the main office at (305) 461-1095, or Toll Free at 1 (866) 71-CLAIM or email Attorney Gonzalez-Sirgo directly at [email protected].

J.P. Gonzalez-Sirgo
J.P. Gonzalez-Sirgo, P.A.
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