INSURANCE BAD FAITH

Insurance companies owe a duty of good faith and fair dealing to those that they insure.

This duty is often referred to as the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing. When insurance companies violate that covenant, the policy holder may have a civil claim against the insurance company for failure to act in good faith and for breach of contract.

In 2007, Washington State voters confirmed Referendum 67, the Insurance Fair Conduct Act (“IFCA”).In Washington, it’s illegal for an insurance company to unreasonably deny an insurance claim or violate laws that govern unfair settlement practices. If an insurance company does either, a policy holder has legal recourse under IFCA to seek punitive damages in court.

PWRFL routinely handles claims and lawsuits against insurance companies when Washington’s insurance laws, including IFCA, are violated.