Insurance companies are becoming more and more aggressive when presented with valid claims against their own insurance policies. Unfortunately, many insurance companies deny valid claims or attempt to side-step their legal obligations through a strategy known as a Reservation of Rights letter. What should you do when an insurance company denies your claim in San Diego or sends you a Reservation of Rights letter?
Contact the experienced San Diego insurance bad faith and coverage attorneys at the Watkins Firm. You need some legal help, and in some cases your insurance company will be required to pay the bill. It’s a simple fact that insurance companies deny valid claims. Their representatives either do not understand the actual coverage their policy provides or they inadvertently or purposefully misrepresent the coverages provided by your policy. They may try to tell you that your own negligent actions contributed to the claim, and this is a reason for denying your claim outright, or issuing the Reservation of Rights letter. How can you know when this is happening to you?
Our attorneys will review the policy itself in context of your claim and the facts surrounding your case. We help our clients to stand up when an insurance company denies your claim in San Diego and force them to accept a valid claim when it falls within the stated policy coverage. We cut through the red tape and get to the core issues to resolve your challenge with your own insurance company.
What is a Reservation of Rights Letter?
A Reservation of Rights letter is what the insurance companies and their legal teams internally (and sarcastically) call a “denial letter.” While it says that they agree to proceed with your claim, they “reserve the right” to refuse coverage or representation down the road. It is important for you to understand that the attorneys for the insurance company do not work for you. Legally, their client is the policy of the insurance company itself, not you as the policy holder. While you will be named in a lawsuit as a defendant, the attorneys for the insurance company have a legal incentive to shift liability from the policy to you personally. This is a genuine conflict of interest.
Fortunately, if you are reading this you probably live in the State of California or are at least managing a claim within our State. California law clearly understands the problems this conflict of interest creates and the law provides for you to have your own independent counsel known as a “Cumis Counsel.” The best news for you – your insurance company usually has to pay the cost for your cumis counsel!
If you are involved in a dispute with your insurance company and are not sure what you should do when an insurance company denies your claim in San Diego contact the experienced insurance bad faith attorneys at the Watkins Firm or call for a free consultation at 858-535-1511.
