In a personal injury case, the term good faith means:
- An insurance company’s legal duty to treat you fairly, be honest about your claim, and not put its own financial interests ahead of yours.
This sounds simple, but if you’ve ever actually went up against an insurance company, you know how far off this can seem. The good news is that you don’t have to go through the process alone. Our California personal injury lawyers at Maison Law can help. Set up a free consultation today.
How Does an Insurance Company Not Act in Good Faith?
When you file an injury claim, there’s an expectation that the insurance company will handle it in good faith. In plain terms, that means they’re supposed to be fair, honest, and reasonable while your claim is being reviewed. They’re not required to hand you a blank check—but they are required to treat your claim seriously and not play games with it.
The problem is that injury claims often put insurance companies on the defensive. The money comes out of their pocket, and once that happens, “good faith” can start to fade. Instead of focusing on what happened to you, the process can start to feel slow, confusing, and tilted in their favor. Some common ways insurance companies fall short of good faith in injury claims include:
- Letting the claim stall with long gaps between responses or unexplained delays
- Minimizing your injuries by questioning medical treatment or suggesting you’re “mostly fine”
- Offering quick, low settlements before the full impact of your injuries is clear
- Denying the claim without solid support, or relying on vague explanations
- Cherry-picking policy language to limit coverage instead of reading it fairly
- Skipping a real investigation, or ignoring witness statements, reports, or medical records
- Using pressure tactics, like deadlines or repeated calls meant to push you into settling early
What makes this especially frustrating is the imbalance. You’re dealing with injuries, missed work, and medical bills. They’re dealing with spreadsheets and bottom lines. When an insurance company stops acting in good faith, it can leave you feeling like you’re being blamed, rushed, or worn down on purpose. That’s when you can turn to our team for help. We’ll explain your options and help you push back against these “bad faith” tactics. Set up a free consultation today.
