Bad Faith in Travel Insurance Claims
The practice of bad faith in travel insurance claims has left millions of people stranded and under a great deal of financial stress. Unfortunately, this is not an uncommon occurrence, as the law offices of Dawson and Rosenthal have been consulted by clients on this same issue time and time again. To learn more, please reach out to a San Diego bad faith insurance claim lawyer from Dawson and Rosenthal today.
What is Bad Faith Insurance?
Under normal circumstances, people pay for insurance to protect them in the event of some sort of mishap or accident occurring that costs them a great deal of money. Paying on a monthly or yearly basis protects people from these financial catastrophes as, oftentimes, they cost a great deal of money that everyday folk may not have immediate access to.
However, bad faith materializes when the insurance companies that have been receiving regular payments to protect their clients do not pay out what is owed to the clients after catastrophe strikes. Of course, bad faith practices are almost always in contention with the terms and conditions of a contract set out with an insurance company. The reality of the situation is that insurance companies want to deny these claims in order to protect their profit margins.
Bad faith explicitly refers to shady and questionable tactics that are utilized on clients to defend the company’s choice to not pay a claim. Furthermore, insurance companies can practice bad faith by refusing to properly defend and protect someone from the claims of others. This is often done through a weak and non-contractual defense of the refusal to pay the claim that most typically involves some sort of blame game.
Travel insurance, more specifically, aims to protect everyday consumers from missed or canceled flights, lost luggage, shady and non-existence accommodations, and much more. After experiencing one or more of these instances of injustice, someone with travel insurance may attempt to make a claim. It is the experience of many that these claims are denied by insurance companies in bad faith.
The Trials and Tribulations of Travel Insurance
There are a number of things to keep in mind when picking a travel insurance agency and plan. First off, it should be noted that the entirety of a policy should be read through and understood in its entirety. This protects a consumer as it gives them a better idea of what can and cannot be claimed. Other healthy practices, such as vetting agencies, can be done by checking reviews and reviewing the options with an attorney.
When it comes to actually submitting a claim, any and all documentation relevant to the incident should be gathered and submitted. This can be obtained from a number of sources, such as accommodation sites like Airbnb to flight companies like United or American Airlines. This information will serve as evidence for a travel company to make the decision to accept or deny a claim. Seeing as this can be a great deal of money, it is always advised to have a lawyer alongside you.
Protecting You From Bad Faith
No matter the circumstance, it is always recommended to have an attorney alongside you and your family throughout the entire ride. Choosing a policy, preparing to submit a claim, and gathering relevant documentation are all relevant and necessary practices to do with an attorney in order to prevent bad faith.
To protect yourself while traveling and dealing with bad faith claims in the travel insurance world, please reach out to a San Diego bad faith insurance attorney from Dawson and Rosenthal today. We can be reached at (619) 354-1652 or through our contact form.