Showing posts with label attorney. Show all posts
Showing posts with label attorney. Show all posts

Saturday, 16 February 2013

Denied Insurance Claim Lawyers | Insurance Dispute Attorney | Medical Insurance Denials


Los Angeles Denied Insurance Claim Attorneys

Our lawyers are very experienced at representing policyholders in disputes with insurance companies. We have handled some of the largest insurance dispute cases in California history, including a $153 million consumer class action lawsuit against Life of Virginia (now known as GE Life Annuity & Assurance Co) for illegally raising premiums on universal life insurance policies.

Our lawyers handle all kinds of insurance disputes, including:
  • Denial of homeowner, life, health, disability, or business liability claims without a reasonable basis
  • Failure to defend you if you are sued
  • Failure to settle a claim against you within your policy limits
  • Failure to honor vanishing premium policies
  • Raising premiums when the insurance company does not have a contractual right to do so
  • Low-balling property damage claims
  • Failure to refund premiums in violation of the law
An insurance contract is a contract between the insurance company and the policyholder. In addition to their contractual responsibilities, insurance companies have a duty to treat their policyholders fairly. Generally, this means the insurance company must put your interests on the same level as its own interest. When an insurance company fails to live up to this duty, it may be guilty of insurance bad faith. If a judge thinks that an insurance company's actions rise to the level of bad faith, the court can award additional damages such as attorney fees.
Often, many policyholders are victims of the same insurance company tactics. In these cases, our lawyers can file the lawsuit as consumer class action on behalf of all policyholders.

INSURANCE DISPUTE CASES AND CERTIFICATIONS HANDLED BY OUR LAWYERS

Credit Insurance Unearned Premium Litigation

We have worked extensively prosecuting nationwide litigation involving the credit insurance industry. The claims relate to these insurance companies’ practice of failing to refund unearned premiums owed to class members when class members’ loans are paid off early, and cases are pending all over the country in state and federal courts with respect to such claims. In the first of these cases to reach the certification stage, the County Superior Court certified a nationwide class at the end of the day long hearing handled on behalf of the class. This class certification order approving class action treatment was affirmed in its entirety on July 10, 2006 by the California Court of Appeals, and on October 30, 2006 the Supreme Court of California declined to review that decision of the California Court of Appeals thereby upholding the trial court’s order certifying a nationwide class in its entirety.
In proving class treatment was appropriate and necessary to address this conduct, we crafted a novel approach to obtaining evidence from a credit reporting agency which evidence establishes the insurance companies’ obligation to pay refunds to those class members whose underlying loans were, in fact, paid off early.

Consumer Class Action Case – “Universal Life” Insurance Policies

GE Life Annuity & Assurance Co. -- The litigation related to “universal life” insurance policies and, more specifically, the administration of those policies with respect to periodic premium charges. Mr. McBride, for instance, saw his $150 monthly premium which he had paid regularly for 13 years, unilaterally increased by the company every year on his birthday, starting around the 14th year of his policy. Ultimately, Mr. McBride’s premium obligation tripled.
The issue for class purposes was whether GE Life had the contractual right to take such actions with respect to class members like Robert McBride. During the litigation, GE Life produced the equivalent of millions of pages of electronically-stored policyholder information, and the company was forced to provide discovery of user-created documents that had previously been unsearchable and scattered throughout the company’s system. Settlement negotiations began in earnest, leading to a truly innovative settlement that obtained massive benefits for the class.
The settlement made available more than $153 million in real relief to the class members, including the opportunity to receive a guarantee from the company that premiums for qualifying class members could not be increased by the company during the life of the policies.

Our lawyers were involved in the representation of these cases

Free insurance dispute consultation: Contact a lawyer in Los Angeles, California, for a free initial consultation today so we can begin to protect your rights.

Los Angeles Insurance Dispute Lawyer | California Bad Faith Lawsuit Attorneys | Insurance Claim Law Firm♠

Los Angeles Insurance Dispute Attorney

California Insurance Lawsuit Lawyer

Los Angeles Lawyers Handling Wrongfully Denied Insurance Claims

You pay your insurance premiums every month, often for years on end. One day an unexpected, and perhaps devastating, loss occurs. Your insurance carrier denies your claim, is delaying paying the claim, or is underpaying the claim. The insurance company has probably cited to some policy provision that they allege excludes coverage for this loss. The insurance policy is incomprehensible and you are left unsure what your rights are or how to proceed.
We have extensive experience analyzing and litigating insurance coverage disputes. We used to work for the insurance companies, but now we work for you.

Insurance Claim Denied? Contact Experienced and Aggressive California Insurance Lawyers

Time is of the essence when fighting with insurance companies. It is vital to retain a skilled and aggressive attorney with experience fighting insurance companies as soon as the insurance carrier hesitates in paying your claim.
  • Generally, insurance policies limit the amount of time you have to file a lawsuit against the insurance company to 1 or 2 years.
  • If you file suit even 1 day late, you may lose all of your rights to recovery.
  • In order to recover "bad faith penalties" against the insurance company (which are like punitive damages), there are certain actions that must be taken at least 60 days prior to filing suit.
Recovering bad faith penalties requires strict compliance with California law and the terms of your insurance policy. Protect what is rightfully yours by contacting an attorney at V&T Law today.

Experienced Legal Representation to Policyholders

We work with clients who have been denied claims under a variety of insurance policies, including:
  • Homeowners Insurance Policy.
  • Commercial General Liability (CGL) Insurance Policy.
  • Umbrella Insurance Policy.
  • Professional Liability Insurance.
  • Errors and Omissions Policy.
  • Builders Risk Insurance.
  • Any insurance policy covering real or personal property.
  • Any liability insurance policy.
If you feel your insurance carrier has improperly denied your claim or is delaying paying your claim, contact us today.

Los Angeles Personal Injury Lawyers | Wrongful Death Attorneys | Car Accident Injury Firm California

Los Angeles Injury Lawyers

California Personal Injury Attorneys

If you have suffered a catastrophic personal injury, you can't afford to lose your case. The more serious your injury, the greater the challenges you will face, both medically and financially. To meet these challenges successfully, you have to be willing to fight.

At our Los Angeles law firm we are prepared to take on the fight on your behalf. We have helped hundreds of injured people throughout California recover damages from the parties who had negligently injured them. Our clients' victories have included many multi-million-dollar recoveries.

Veteran Personal Injury Attorneys

All of our attorneys have been selected as Super Lawyers by peer vote as reported in Los Angeles Magazine.
Our attorneys are experienced in handling all types of personal injury cases, including catastrophic injuries resulting from the following:
  • Auto accidents, including rear-end collisions and drunk driving accidents
  • Trucking accidents caused by weather conditions, highway defects and driver negligence including driver fatigue and failure to maintain the truck
  • Motorcycle accidents, bicycle accidents and pedestrian accidents
  • Public transit accidents
  • Product liability including injuries caused by dangerous and defective drugs or recalled toys
  • Medical malpractice including birth injuries resulting in cerebral palsy; surgical errors, ER (emergency room) errors and failure to diagnose cancer or other critical illnesses and conditions
  • Dog bites
  • Nursing home neglect cases involving bedsores, malnutrition and dehydration
  • Insurance disputes
  • Construction injuries including crane accidents and accidents involving heavy machinery
We concentrate our practice on helping adults and children who have suffered the most serious losses, handling serious personal injuries including the following:
  • Brain injuries
  • Burn injuries
  • Spinal cord injuries
  • Amputation
  • Fatal accidents
In addition to representing injured people and their families, our lawyers also help businesses that have suffered major financial losses due to fraud, negligence, or the wrongful conduct of another party.

Doing What It Takes to Win Relief for the Injured

Winning a personal injury or business tort lawsuit boils down not only to legal proficiency, but also having the financial resources to hire the best experts. For example, if you are injured in a car accident, your lawyer may hire highly skilled accident reconstructionists and engineers to document such factors as speed, point of impact, points of rest and highway defects.

We undertake our investigations without placing a financial burden on you. Through our contingent fee agreement, we advance all litigation expenses and are reimbursed only when your case is settled or tried to verdict. If your case is not won, we will bear all litigation costs.
We offer a free consultation to evaluate your injury case.

Take up the fight. Contact an experienced personal injury attorney.

Personal Injury Attorneys New York, Winning Lawyers

Personal Injury Lawyers with a Reputation for Million-Dollar Results

We have earned our reputation for million-dollar results by not backing down. No matter how big an opponent is, no matter how complex a personal injury case is, we have the resources and experience to obtain the best possible result in your case.
Our resources come in two forms: our human resources and our financial resources.
  • Our human resources: We have a team of experienced attorneys. Our team members have received numerous honors. Our attorneys have been included on the list of Super Lawyers in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008. We have the skill to maneuver our way to strong settlements and impressive jury verdicts.
  • Our financial resources: The fact of the matter is that personal injury cases cost money. Our history of success means that we have the funds available to conduct extensive investigation, enlist important experts and build cutting-edge exhibits. Since we handle our cases on a contingency basis, you pay nothing until we win. Then, you only pay a small percentage of the final outcome.
Our history of success: Our cases have received coverage from the New York Times, the Daily News, CBS News, Fox News, and other television programs and newspapers in New York and throughout the country. The Daily News even printed a front-page story about a $35 Million Dollar settlement our law firm helped attain.

In fact that settlement, obtained for a 12 year girl from New York who was severely injured by a rusted parking lot pole, is just one of the examples of our dedication to cutting-edge legal work. Since our firm began in 1977, we have dedicated ourselves to doing what is right for people who have been wronged. We have never been afraid of breaking new ground in order to get positive results.
Our practice areas include every type of personal injury case, from slip and fall accidents to complex product liability cases. No matter what type of negligence has taken place, we can help.
If your case involves a motor vehicle accident, please visit our separate motor vehicle accident site.
Our team of lawyers includes motorcycle enthusiasts. If your case involves a motorcycle accident, please visit our separate motorcycle accident site.

Free Consultation — We Will Answer Your Questions

Call us or send us an e-mail to schedule a meeting with an experienced personal injury lawyer.

New York Personal Injury Lawyer Attorney

New York Personal Injury Attorney

Protecting the Rights of the Injured

Have you or someone that you care about been recently involved in a preventable accident that resulted in a personal injury? If you can answer "yes," to this question, the simple truth is that you are likely already acutely aware of the ramifications that an event of this nature can have on your entire life. You may not, however, be sure of how to go about resolving it. Personal injuries are difficult, life-altering situations that can leave you frustrated and unsure of where to turn.
Without the guidance of an experienced lawyer, you can be overwhelmed and frightened. It is important to remember though: you do not have to live with this without relief. By working with an attorney well-versed in helping clients with personal injury claims, you can be confident that you will be given the care and devotion you deserve as you fight for your just and sizeable compensation.
A New York personal injury attorney who is experienced and has the resources to properly investigate your claim can thoroughly review the matter in order to determine the best approach. This may include carefully reviewing all physical evidence, witness testimony, police reports and medical records as well as working with professionals in forensics, accident reconstruction, medicine and private investigation to act as expert witnesses in presenting your case. Whether through a negotiated settlement or jury verdict, the goal will be to recover the highest possible amount of financial damages that will cover any and all medical expenses, loss of earnings and emotional trauma associated with the accident or injury.

Legal Help for Serious Injury Victims in New York, CA

We are a New York personal injury law firm representing victims of serious injuries throughout the greater New York area in Southern New York. When you or someone you love is injured or loses their life because of another's wrongful conduct, our attorneys can help you take action to rebuild your life by seeking justice and the money you need for medical care and much more. We know that times are tough; our mission is to relieve the pressure by holding the responsible party accountable and seeking full compensation for all of your post-accident or injury expenses and losses, no matter the circumstances or the severity of physical and emotional trauma you have experienced.

Talking to a New York injury lawyer is an important step to take following any kind of personal injury accident. Regardless of the specifics of how you have been injured, a skilled attorney from our firm will have detailed knowledge to properly defend your case. In any of type of personal injury case, you may have the right to legal recourse; however, without a thorough review by a competent professional you may have no way of knowing the true value of your claim and against what party you can take legal action. We can review your case during a free consultation to determine how we can help you. Should we work together on your case, our legal team can then take action to hold the negligent party responsible for their conduct as we seek just monetary damages on your behalf.

Our law firm takes on personal injury cases throughout New York and we have over 35 years of combined legal experience to apply to your case. If you choose to seek legal support and guidance from our team, you can breathe easier knowing that we will do everything in our power to help you reach your optimum outcome. We employ exhaustive preparation, meticulous research and an aggressive pursuit of justice. As a result you can be sure that a heavyweight attorney will represent you, one with the desire and resources to effectively help you in the wake of your personal injury.
Drunk Driving Accidents
 
Because car accidents are a primary focus of our personal injury firm, we place a strong emphasis on protecting the rights of those who have been injured by drunk drivers. A person who has consumed alcohol or drugs and gets behind the wheel of a car will likely have impaired motor and mental skills and a delayed reaction time. These factors can greatly increase the likelihood of that driver causing a collision. Heavy weather and congested roads will only increase the likelihood of an accident. In New York, where drivers are held accountable for causing auto accidents, proving the fault of the drunk driver is an important part of ensuring that their insurance will cover your injuries. That is where an attorney will prove particularly valuable. In addition to establishing the cause of a drunk driving accident, we will work to determine the true value of your case.

Understanding the Personal Injury Litigation Process

If you have been injured, it is very likely that you are facing the possibility of moving forward into litigation. We recognize that this can be a confusing process and we are here to help explain some of the primary steps that you can expect. The first thing that you will need is to find an attorney who you can trust to represent your best interests. After conducting research and finding the right lawyer for you, you will enter into investigations. This will give your legal counsel time to look into the circumstances of the case – including gathering physical evidence, speaking to key witnesses, consulting with experts and even maintaining communication with all involved insurance companies.

After investigations have been primarily completed, it is likely that you will enter into negotiations with either the responsible party or with any involved insurance companies. After all evidence has been gathered and necessary paperwork put together (including everything from related medical bills to physician reports), a "demand" will be sent to the insurer which will outline the facts of the case, reasons why the other party is considered to be liable and any supporting evidence. It will also outline an acceptable amount that the case could potentially be settled for. In some cases, this stage will take a considerable amount of time as the plaintiff and defendant will need to go back and forth while attempting to reach an acceptable amount.
This, however, does not always reach resolution and will need to move from settlement negotiations to full-blown litigation. After the decision to pursue a lawsuit has been made, your attorney will officially file a Complaint with the court documenting the details of your case. This will then be served to the defendant(s) who will have the opportunity to file an Answer and respond to all of the allegations included within the Complaint. After an Answer has been filed or the deadline has passed, the case will move forward into Discovery. During this time, all parties will continue to work toward obtaining all necessary information regarding the case; this will include the taking of necessary depositions under oath if necessary.
In some cases, the plaintiff or defendant may choose to file a motion at this point to have certain pieces of evidence dismissed from the case. If a motion is filed, the opposing party will generally have up to fourteen days to respond; in some cases, it may require a hearing of some sort to sort out the details. Regardless, after all motions have been heard, the case will proceed. This may result in mediation to resolve the case without the use of the court or it may require that the case be taken to trial. No matter how you proceed, it is in your best interests to have a knowledgeable attorney on your side to help protect your best interests and ensure your rights are not violated.

It is important to keep in mind that this is only a generalization of some of the steps which may be involved in your case. Every single situation is different and will unfold in a different manner. If you would like to discuss your potential case in more specifics or would like to take the first step toward reaching a successful resolution, you should not hesitate to contact an attorney from our firm. We will be able to walk you through what you can expect and the different ways that our firm can help protect you.

Consulting with a New York Injury Lawyer

When you are injured because someone else acted recklessly or failed to provide a standard level of caution or care, you may have the legal right to hold that individual responsible in civil court. No one should be forced to pay expenses for any harm they suffered because of someone else's negligence or purposeful action.

Victims of personal injuries in New York may be able to seek financial damages from the responsible party for medical care, future medical expenses, lost earnings, loss of earning potential, emotional trauma, and more. Any compensation received for these damages is meant to help an injury victim and/or his or her family to rebuild and recover from the trauma that the victim experienced.
Making the decision to consult with an injury attorney is important. Although taking legal action may be the furthest thing from your mind after suffering serious injury or losing a loved one, this may be your only opportunity to seek justice by way of a personal injury or wrongful death claim. We have the experience and resources to help you with whatever legal matter you are currently dealing with.
Ready to discuss your potential case with a legal professional? Don't wait! Contact a New York personal injury attorney at our law offices today.

At our firm, we are proud to serve residents of all area of New York County, including those who currently reside in Agoura Hills, Alhambra, Arcadia, Azusa, Baldwin Park, Bell, Bellflower, Bell Gardens, Beverly Hills, Burbank, Calabasas, Carson, Cerritos, Claremont, Compton, Covina, Culver City, Diamond Bar, Downey, Duarte, El Monte, Gardena, Glendale, Glendora, Hawaiian Gardens, Hawthorne, Hermosa Beach, Huntington Park, Inglewood, La Canada Flintridge, Lakewood, La Mirada, Lancaster, La Puente, La Verne, Lawndale, Lomita, Long Beach, New York, Lynwood, Malibu, Manhattan Beach, Maywood, Monrovia, Montebello, Monterey Park, Norwalk, Palmdale, Paramount, Pasadena, Pico Rivera, Pomona, Rancho Palos Verdes, Redondo Beach, Rosemead, San Dimas, San Fernando, San Gabriel, San Marino, Santa Clarita, Santa Fe Springs, Santa Monica, South El Monte, South Gate, South Pasadena, Temple City, Torrance, Walnut, West Covina, West Hollywood, Westlake Village and Whittier.