Signs The Workers’ Compensation Insurance Company Is Acting In Bad Faith
After suffering a work-related injury and filing a workers’ compensation claim, you expect that the insurance company will act in good faith. You expect that the insurance company will have your best interests in mind. However, workers’ compensation insurance companies don’t always act in good faith or have injured employees’ best interests in mind. Some insurance companies act in bad faith and try to pay injured workers less than they deserve or get out of paying them altogether. If you recently suffered a work injury and filed a workers’ compensation claim, it is crucial that you look out for signs that the insurance company is acting in bad faith.
The following are some of the signs to watch out for that show that your employer’s insurer is acting in bad faith;
Lack of Communication
Lack of communication is the first sign that your employer’s insurer is acting in bad faith and trying to delay, devalue, or deny your workers’ compensation claim. This does not mean that, for example, whenever you call the insurance company, someone should pick up your calls immediately. It means that if, for example, you call the insurance company and your call goes unanswered, someone should call you back within a reasonable amount of time. If your calls are not being returned and/or your emails are not being answered, it may be a sign that the insurance company does not want to deal with your case.
Unreasonable Claim Denial
If the insurance company denies your claim, it must give you a reasonable explanation for the denial. If your claim is denied and the insurance company gives you unclear or incomplete answers when you try to ask why your claim was denied, it is a clear sign that it is acting in bad faith.
Not Prioritizing Investigating Your Claim
In Vermont, after your employer gets notice of your injury, the insurance company has 21 days to investigate your workers’ compensation claim and determine if your injury is covered. So this means the insurance company should start its investigations as soon as possible after receiving your claim. If the insurance company delays starting investigations, it might be looking for ways to delay, devalue, or deny your claim.
Unreasonable Document Requests
Sometimes, the workers’ compensation insurance company will request you provide additional documents before it starts working on your claim. Sometimes the requests are genuine, but most times, this is a delay tactic. If the insurance company requests unnecessary documentation, it may be trying to delay your claim. The insurance company may be asking for unnecessary documents, with the hope that you grow tired and lose heart.
Intimidation/Threats
An insurance company should not intimidate or threaten you. Insurance companies are obligated to treat everyone professionally. Unfortunately, some insurance companies threaten plaintiffs. For example, the workers’ compensation insurance company may threaten you if you attempt to hire a lawyer to help you with your claim. If you receive threats from the insurance company, it is acting in bad faith.
If your employer’s insurance company threatens you, it is vital that you remember that insurance companies usually make empty threats to intimidate claimants into accepting lowball offers.
Contact a Vermont Workers’ Compensation Attorney
Our skilled and dedicated Vermont workers’ compensation attorney at Sluka Law PLC can help you with your workers’ compensation claim. Contact us today to discuss your case.
