Bad Faith Insurance Law


Bad Faith Insurance Law


Bad Faith Insurance Law covers state laws and regulations that are enforced to protect consumers from unethical practices by insurance companies. Some forms of bad faith cases involving insurance agencies include: refusal by the agency to pay a claim in compliance with the insurance policy; and delays in the processing of a claim.

In order to view state specific insurance laws visit our Department of Insurance by State page.

Bad Faith Insurance Law - US

  • ABA - Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section (TIPS)

    Welcome to the ABA Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section (TIPS)—the source of knowledge and leadership on trial practice and critical issues of justice that involve tort and insurance law. There are numerous benefits of TIPS membership. We invite you to explore these resources and join the TIPS family today.

  • Bad Faith - Overview by IRMI

    A term describing blatantly unfair conduct that exceeds mere negligence by an insurance company. For example, a bad faith claim may arise if an auto liability insurer arbitrarily refuses to settle a claim within policy limits, where an insured's liability is incontrovertible. Bad faith damages, also known as extracontractual damages, are often substantial. They frequently exceed the limits of the insurance policy that is the subject of the claim.

  • Bad Faith Insurance - Definition

    Insurance bad faith is a legal term of art that describes a tort claim that an insured person may have against an insurance company for its bad acts. Under the law of most jurisdictions in the United States, insurance companies owe a duty of good faith and fair dealing to the persons they insure. This duty is often referred to as the "implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing" which automatically exists by operation of law in every insurance contract. If an insurance company violates that covenant, the insured person (or "policyholder") may sue the company on a tort claim in addition to a standard breach of contract claim. The contract-tort distinction is significant because as a matter of public policy, punitive or exemplary damages are unavailable for contract claims, but are available for tort claims.

  • McCarran-Ferguson Act

    The Act entitled “An Act to express the intent of Congress with reference to the regulation of the business of insurance” and approved March 9, 1945 (15 U.S.C. 1011 et seq.) (commonly referred to as the “McCarran-Ferguson Act”) remains the law of the United States.

Organizations Related to Bad Faith Insurance Law

  • American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI)

    The American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI) represents more than 300 legal reserve life insurer and fraternal benefit society member companies operating in the United States. These member companies represent more than 90% of the assets and premiums of the U.S. life insurance and annuity industry.

  • American Insurance Association (AIA)

    The American Insurance Association (AIA) is the leading property-casualty insurance trade organization, representing approximately 300 insurers that write more than $117 billion in premiums each year. AIA member companies offer all types of property - casualty insurance, including personal and commercial auto insurance, commercial property and liability coverage for small businesses, workers' compensation, homeowners' insurance, medical malpractice coverage, and product liability insurance.

  • Council of Insurance Agents and Brokers

    The Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers is the premier association for the top national, regional and international commercial brokerage firms and agencies in the United States and around the world. Member firms have offices in more than 3,000 locations across 100 countries. Council members place more than $200 billion in commercial property/casualty and employee benefits premium worldwide. More than 16 percent of the membership is comprised of firms headquartered outside the United States. Founded in 1913, The Council is based in Washington, D.C.

  • Fight Bad Faith Insurance Companies (FBIC)

    Bad faith (BF) insurance companies non-payment of claims practices are proven to be pervasive and widespread. The overwhelming majority of insurers are bad faith (BF) insurers that repeatedly and consistently break the law, and state regulators have been for decades and are covertly pro-insurers and anti-claimants FBIC struggles to identify Good Faith (GF) insurance companies from the remaining few and much smaller number of insurers as the overwhelming number of consumer complaints exceed one million + annually. Bad Faith (BF) insurers are estimated to reach upwards of 80%-90% of insurers in many circumstances

  • Insurance Risk Management Institute (IRMI)

    At IRMI, our mission is to be the premier authority in providing expert advice and practical strategies for risk management, insurance, and legal professionals. We will continuously earn our customers’ trust and confidence by empowering them with the most reliable and accurate information, maintaining the highest levels of integrity in all that we do, and quickly responding to their needs.

  • National Association of Insurance Commissioners

    The mission of the NAIC is to assist state insurance regulators, individually and collectively, in serving the public interest and achieving the following fundamental insurance regulatory goals in a responsive, efficient and cost effective manner, consistent with the wishes of its members:

  • National Conference of Insurance Legislators (NCOIL)

    The National Conference of Insurance Legislators (NCOIL) is an organization of state legislators whose main area of public policy concern is insurance legislation and regulation. Many legislators active in NCOIL either chair or are members of the committees responsible for insurance legislation in their respective state houses across the country.

  • National Insurance Law Forum

    National Insurance Law Forum is a public service intended to facilitate discussion and an exchange of ideas and information among insurance industry professionals, risk managers, attorneys, policyholders, students, and others with an interest in the development of American insurance law. Members of the Forum are attorneys who concentrate their practice in insurance and bad faith law and litigation.

Publications Related to Bad Faith Insurance Law

  • ABA - Insurance Claims and Issues

    This blawg addresses issues related to insurance coverage and to the duties of good faith and fair dealing as presented in claims and as ruled on by courts across the nation.

  • Insurance Information Institute

    The mission of the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.) is to improve public understanding of insurance -- what it does and how it works. For more than 40 years, the I.I.I. has provided definitive insurance information. Today, the I.I.I. is recognized by the media, governments, regulatory organizations, universities and the public as a primary source of information, analysis and referral concerning insurance.

Articles on HG.org Related to Bad Faith Insurance Law

  • Five Most Common Bad Faith Insurance Practices
    First party bad faith deals with claims made by policyholders and covers a wide range of transgressions. Here is an overview of the five most common.
  • 10 Bad Faith Insurance Claim Practices
    Learn about some common bad faith insurance claim practices. If you are dealing with a denied claim after unfair practice, get legal help from a Denver attorney.
  • Life Insurance Claims in North Carolina
    This Article addresses life insurance claims in North Carolina, and some issues that frequently arise in these claims, including whether the death is accidental, and whether the insured made a misrepresentation in the policy application. Life insurance claims in North Carolina are governed by the policy itself, state statutes, and sometimes federal ERISA laws.
  • Obtaining Long Term Disability Benefits for Mental Health Issues
    Depression, bipolar disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are three similar mental illnesses with defining symptoms and characteristics. People afflicted by these mental health issues are often times unable to work, making it difficult to pay bills and other expenses. In this article, we detail the challenges people face while trying to obtain long term disability benefits.
  • Arizona Upholds $54 Million Reduction of Punitive Damages in Insurance Bad Faith Case
    The Arizona Court of Appeals recently upheld a trial court's reduction of a $55 million punitive damages award to only $620,000 and further reduced the punitive damages to $155,000-a 1:1 ratio to compensatory damages.
  • Texas Residential Theft Claims
    Importance of Having an Inventory List When Pursuing a Residential Theft Claim in Texas - When theft to your home occurs, you will need to file a Texas homeowners insurance claim for the items that were stolen and the damage that may have been done to your house. If you ever have to pursue a theft claim in Texas, you may have to show proof of ownership of the items that are damaged or missing.
  • Texas Residential Vandalism Claims
    When theft or vandalism to your home occurs, the aftermath of the situation can leave you stressed, as you may be trying to remember everything the thieves stole. Have you walked in your front door only to find that your home has been vandalized? This horrible situation may leave you feeling violated and scared for your safety. Not only are you left with the mess that this situation created, but you also have to deal with the insurance company, which can be an exhausting and frustrating process.
  • Texas Sinkhole Claims
    When the Ground Gives Way in Texas – 5 Critical Things Every Home Owner Should Know - Sinkholes come in many different sizes - some small and others that grow up to 40 to 60 feet deep and wide. When a sinkhole develops on your property in Texas, no matter the size, it can be dangerous. Not only can a sinkhole disrupt your life, but it could also damage your home and property and injure people you love.
  • Hail Damage to Roofs Insurance Claims
    A homes roof must be physically inspected by a person who has training and experience to determine if there is actual hail damage. Insurance companies send their adjusters to special training so they can properly identify hail damage to a home. And, the insurance company is generally NOT ON YOUR SIDE. You may be thinking to yourself that you remember a hail storm but looked up at your roof and did not notice any damage. The fact of the matter is you can’t see hail storm damage from the ground.
  • Mudslide Damage Insurance Claims in Texas
    If you have come home from a long day at work to find your house destroyed by a mudslide, or if you wake up one morning to find that your porch and garage are not attached to your home anymore because of a mudslide, you may not know where to turn and what to do after suffering this serious damage to your house. You are most likely feeling shocked that this could have happened to you and overwhelmed about what to do next.
  • All Insurance and Reinsurance Law Articles

    Articles written by attorneys and experts worldwide discussing legal aspects related to Insurance and Reinsurance including: bad faith insurance, insurance defense, insurance fraud and medical insurance.

HG.org Insurance and Reinsurance Law Guides

Bad Faith Insurance Law is part of the Insurance and Reinsurance Law practice which also deals with: Insurance Defense, Insurance Fraud and Medical Insurance.