Insurance Companies Owe Insureds Special Duties
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Insurance Companies Often Act in Bad Faith
Nevada laws recognize that insurers owe special duties to their insureds and protections are set forth, both in Nevada statutes and in Nevada regulations, to protect insureds from their insurance companies. Nevada law allows for punitive damages to be awarded against an insurer that breaches certain obligations to its insured.
While numerous claims against an insurance company are possible in any given case, Nevada's "bad faith" claim (which is actually called a "breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing" claim) requires proof of
the following elements:
1. Plaintiff and defendant entered into a contract;
2. Defendant owed a duty of good faith to plaintiff arising from the contract;
3. There was a special element of reliance or a fiduciary duty between plaintiff and defendant where
defendant was in a superior or entrusted position;
4. Defendant breached duty of good faith by engaging in misconduct; and,
5. Plaintiff suffered damages as a result of the breach.
An insurance company acts in bad faith when it wrongfully denies coverage to an insured. An insurance policy is considered a contract between you and your insurance carrier. This contract requires that your insurer act in "good faith" toward you.
Insurers frequently attempt to deny claims for any reason they can. Also, even when an insurer acknowledges that a claim or lawsuit is covered by the insurance policy, it often attempts to underpay a claim. To prove bad faith, the insured needs to show that the insurer failed to honor the contract and had no cause not to pay what was due.
Insurers have a duty to deal fairly with insureds. Every insurance contract contains an unwritten covenant or promise of good faith imposed by law upon an insurer to always act fairly toward its insureds in handling their claims.
Examples Of Bad Faith
There are many examples of how an insurer can commit bad faith. These include: failing to promptly and thoroughly investigate a claim; unreasonably delaying payment; unreasonably denying benefits; using unreasonable interpretations in translating policy language; refusing to settle a claim or reimburse you for the entirety of your loss, etc.
Making Insurance Claims
Insureds should immediately notify their agents of claims and review their insurance policy as it relates to the claim. Document all events and all contacts and communications made, whether written or verbal, with the insurer. Keep track of the dates and times of communications and the identities of those with whom you spoke.
If you believe that your insurance company has acted in bad faith, contact an experienced attorney as early as possible.