The unexpected death of a loved one can be one of the most traumatic and painful experiences a family can endure. Worse yet, if the person who passed was the family breadwinner, those left behind could be placed at financial risk. Many people purchase life insurance policies to help minimize this risk and ensure their families are protected when they’re gone. Policyholders rely on life insurance companies to pay their designated beneficiaries the appropriate sum of money upon their death. Unfortunately, many insurance companies are first-and-foremost invested in protecting their profits, and some may even attempt to avoid paying death benefits to beneficiaries.
When insurance companies attempt to avoid providing rightful payouts to claims, they’re considered to be acting in bad faith. An experienced life insurance lawyer with our Las Vegas law firm can help claimants pursue rightful compensation and provide crucial guidance amidst litigation. Contact Pursiano Barry Bruce Demetriades Simon LLP today to request a free consultation with a civil litigation lawyer in Las Vegas!
Our litigation attorneys can represent you in cases involving a number of life insurance disputes between insurance companies and beneficiaries, including the following.
Material misrepresentation disputes occur when the insurance company alleges the insured party omitted or misrepresented material health information, such as age or health history, when applying for the policy. Life insurance companies may attempt to invalidate a policy and deny claims on the grounds of material misrepresentation. The laws surrounding material misrepresentation can be complex, so it’s important to seek legal advice right away.
Life insurance policyholders have the right to designate a beneficiary who receives the death benefit. In most cases, the beneficiary is designated upon applying for life insurance. A beneficiary can be changed by the insured at any time and for any reason after the initial designation. If the beneficiary changes, the insured must notify the insurance company in writing, and it’s not unusual for disputes to arise. Some of the most common beneficiary disputes concerns involve the beneficiary changing and whether the insured sufficiently notified the insurance company of their intentions. In the event of a dispute over the beneficiary of a life insurance policy, you should seek legal counsel from an experienced life insurance attorney.
Insurance policyholders tend to believe that their insurance companies will act in good faith and honor their claims if they pay their premiums. However, this is not always the case. Some insurance companies manipulate the language in their policies to deny or minimize payment on claims. Others may argue with claimants and declare that their claim is not covered in their policy. Fortunately, with the help of reliable legal counsel, victims of insurance bad faith can recover damages for their financial losses. Damages that victims may recover when their provider acts in bad faith include the following.
Beneficiaries have rights that cannot be infringed when dealing with insurance companies. At the bare minimum, life insurance companies owe beneficiaries a duty of good faith. All insurance companies should provide payouts for legitimate claims, and those that act in bad faith should be held accountable. Our legal team can help protect your rights if you think your insurance provider is trying to pressure you into accepting an inadequate settlement or has unjustly denied your life insurance claim. Contact Pursiano Barry Bruce Demetriades Simon LLP today to request a free consultation with a civil litigation attorney in Las Vegas!
