Insurance Lawyer Career Guide and Counseling

Question: who is the best insurance lawyer in Houston TX? i have a rv it was in a flood the insurance totaled it out but wont pay full coverage of the loan they are about $10,000 to short what i owe is what a used trailer is selling for now. need help

Answer: The best lawyer in the world can't make an insurer pay more than the vehicle is worth if that's what the policy stated. However..... you might want to have a 'word' with the agent, or whoever else, sold you the policy without fully appraising you of this fact !

Question: How long does it take a insurance company to respond to a demand letter from a lawyer? My lawyer sent a demand letter(premise Liability) to the dependant. If he was to let his insurance know about it? How long would it take for them(insurance co.) to contact my lawyer.

Answer: I have to disagree with the other answerers. I've never had an incident in 30 years in which an insurance company did not respond to a letter from an attorney--even if they deny coverage. Failure to respond is setting the insurance company up for a "bad faith" lawsuit directly against the insurance company. I did an arbitration (I was the arbitrator) between a very well-known national insurance company and a little old lady a few months ago and the Judge upheld my award of about $300,000 because the insurance company did not act promptly (and for other reasons). You should expect an acknowledgement that your letter was received in a week to 10 days depending upon where the insurance company is. The first letter from the insurance company will not say much. It will tell you they received the demand letter, are assigning it to an adjuster and starting an investigation. In about another month, you should receive a status report from the insurance company or a request for more information. The timing of the 2nd letter depends on a lot of factors. For example, are the medical damages certain? How complex was the accident? How much information did your attorney give them in the demand letter? When I did this kind of law, I would actually put together a settlement package that was like a small book--literally--with reports from every doctor and whatever information is necessary to support your damages.

Question: What would lawyer costs for an auto insurance company be? I'm trying to work out a settlement with the auto-insurance company over an injury that happened last December. They're offering $3,500, but we want $5,000. I was wondering how much it would cost them in legal fees, and lawyer costs if we were to bring this to court. It could help in our bartering if we know they'll be saving money just settling. Thanks.

Answer: Some insurance companies consider a lawyer's fees the cost of doing business. So they don't really give that consideration when they value a claim. They also know that if you hire a lawyer and sue - you will have to pay your lawyer 1/2 of your settlement plus expenses - a smart adjuster will point it out to you that to you. Be careful trying to ague that the insurance company should give you more because you are saving them legal fees -the company can use that argument back against you. Because if you hire a lawyer - you have to pay him as well.

Question: How can i find a lawyer to sue my phone and insurance company? For the past two years I have been dealing with claims and disputes regarding my former auto insurance company and telephone company (separate issues). Basically, they have both screwed me and now I want to try to do something about it by suing them. Trust me, i am not the type of person who would ever have done this in the past, but enough is enough. What kind of lawyer should i search for? Are there any sites i can search to find them? What should i be cautious about? Has anyone ever had to sue their auto insurance company for breach of contract?

Answer: chances are, when you signed all that paperwork for you insurqance and phone, you entered into an agreement to waive your right to sue, and entered into an arbitration agreement. the agreement probably requires you to fly somewhere, pay for 1/2 the expense of arbitraution ($5,000 give or take), and if you win you get your money. but the arbitratoir decides, and the agreement allows the company to pick the arbitrator (hello). http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=arbitration+agreements&aq=f&oq=&aqi=g10

Question: What value does a real estate lawyer add on top of title insurance? If title insurance already protects against: - survey errors - legal description errors - negligence - forgery - liens and negates the need for: - zoning compliance certificate - tax certificate - hydro/water/gas certificates - law society levy what value does a real estate lawyer add on top? Is it just for wading through the legalese in the Offer and the Agreement?

Answer: Depends on the transaction, if it's a refinance, I would tend to agree with you even though I don't understand what you mean by stating title insurance negates the need for tax and water certificate. I'd also be cautious of the legal description errors. I had a situation in NY, purchase, where the deed to the property did not contain a legal description at all. the previous title company would not give us a letter of indemity for our title and then come to find out our title underwriter would not accept it, the original deed had to be found and re-recorded, no exception, so I guess it depends on what you mean by "errors" On a purchase transaction, they usually add more value due to the purchase contracts and drafting of deeds, etc. To be bluntly honest, most attorneys usually dont even touch the file unless there is a major problem, their paralegals handle the day to day operations

Question: What happens when insurance company ignores all communications from lawyer filing claim for their client? Az car accident, other driver's insurance co admitted 100% at fault, victim's lawyer files claim against other driver via insurance co. Insurance company ignores all communications from lawyer. What happens next? Does anybody know the legal process when this happens?

Answer: iowa2az, It's unfortunate to hear about your situation. I was injured once in Illinois when a delivery truck backed over my left foot at work. My employer tried to settle with me fast because they knew it wasn't my fault. I called a local accident lawyer in my area who provided me great advice and I was able to get a decent settlement to cover my medical bills that weren't covered by my primary insurance. I'd suggest you find a lawyer in your area. http://www.accidentlawyerlocator.com My personal injury lawyer was help me because they hope to make some money at the same time. Try visiting a accident lawyer to see if they can help. Heop everything works out.

Question: What kind of lawyer do I need that specializes home insurance policies? My home got flooded. Insurance denied the claim but I believe I still have a case. What kind of lawyer would I need that specializes in home insurance policies to see if I really do have a case? Sorry, I should have been more specific. My house was flooded due to a pipe burst.

Answer: You need to be much more specific because water damage may be covered in certain circumstances but flood damage is not covered in any circumstance. In the USA no homeowners policy will cover damage due to a flood. Flood damage is specifically excluded. Coverage for flood would have to be purchased through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

Question: if a lawyer sends a demand to your insurance company, does the insurance company usually comply? Let's say my lawyer demands $50,000. The demand letter is legit and everything sounds right, or maybe just a bit fabricated. Well, either way, does the insurance company pay the $50,000 or negotiate? If they say no, then what happens?

Answer: They usually will get their lawyer to make a counter-offer.

Question: What kind of lawyer do I need for Consumer Insurance dispute? I was asked to take out a $1700 dental loan up front to begin work on a broken tooth. When everything was done, my insurance covered all but $300. The dentist will not refund the loan, even after (2) 30-day notices from my insurance company demanding payment. They did not submit all the codes, made up codes when asked to submit them by insurance, and charged me individually for services that they also charged to insurance (basically, insurance fraud) They have refused payment, stopped returning phone calls by my insurance, and sent back certified letters from insurance demanding payment. Is there any recourse, can I find a lawyer to help, and which kind of lawyer would I need?

Answer: You need a plaintiff's litigation lawyer.

Question: What kind of lawyer do I use for a lawsuit against my insurance company? I was rear ended over 2 months ago and the lady won't return calls from the insurance company. They've dropped her coverage because of it and now I'm stuck with a damaged car. We had the same insurance company but now they won't return MY calls. I want my car fixed! I need to file a lawsuit against her for damages and I want to sue the insurance company for not standing behind their policies. What kind of lawyer does that?

Answer: just talk to a personal injury attorney...he or she is used to dealing with insurance companies and can at least advise you as to how to handle this matter

Question: What type of lawyer is needed to fight my private disability insurance company? What kind of lawyer should I look for to assist me with a devious disability insurance company? I want to stop them from harrassing, aggravating, and interferring with my recovery. I've paid into this long-term disabilty policy for years, but now that I'm recovering from severe depression, I've had nothing but trouble from these people. Plus, after putting my through months of hell, now they want me to go to their doctor for a second opinion...is this legal? They've done alot of under-handed and shifty crap regarding my claim, but I just don't have the energy or strength to fight them alone while I'm trying to recover. Is there any place online that I can go to research this kinda of stuff? Please help....I'm at my last straw.

Answer: Report them to the insurance Commisioner of the state where you live. As for a lawyer, any lawyer who takes plaintiffs' cases will do. Or, a lawyer specializing in health care.

Question: what kind of lawyer do i need for a life insurance case? my husband passed. now i need to know what kind of lawyer do i need in court when it is the ex wife and i fighting over who should get the life insurance money. my husband passed. we had only been married for 8 months. he had a policy with the ex wife as the beneficiary and never changed it. the ex wife and i are battling it out in court to see who should get it. i need a lawyer to represent me and i need to know what kind of lawyer. she signed her rights away to any and all money from him in his life or death.

Answer: Probably a Probate Lawyer. Possibly a Wills and Estates Lawyer

Question: I got in a wreck with no insurance, should I get a lawyer or just pay the insurance company of the other party? The report says its my fault even though certain specifications are wrong. I never got a ticket for not having insurance. Should I get a legal aid lawyer to fight for me? Or just give up an pay it? :/

Answer: Legal aid will not help you in a civil case. At this point you would want to AVOID going to court. If the accident is your fault then start negotiating with the insurer to pay them back for the amount they paid.

Question: California Lawyer Malpractice Insurance Requirements? Does a lawyer in California have to get Malpractice Insurance in order to take clients? For example if a newly admitted lawyer wanted to do a simple will for a family friend, would they have to obtain insurance first or can they take the case, at their own peril, and collect a fee for it?

Answer: www.findlaw.com has the answer

Question: Accident, getting a lawyer, does it void insurance? If you have an accident, and you file a claim with your insurance company and they agree to whatever coverages at the time. If you get your own lawyer on the case, does it void any coverages you have with the insurance company? E.g, liability for other car, medical bills, etc? Say the case is taken to court, if I don't win the case do I have to pay for all expenses that the insurance company would have otherwise covered? Why would you say that about if it's "your fault"? My insurance company wants to take fault, but I don't agree with them.

Answer: Depending on who is in fault. If you are in fault let your insurance company handle it. If you are not, get a lawyer.

Question: What kind of lawyer would I need to sue an auto insurance company? I was recently in a car accident... where I was at a dead stop in traffic.. (wrong place.. wrong time) and a woman came out of no where and hit the passanger side of my car. She was young and cute and claims that a "third party driver" ran her off of the road and that forced her to hit us, so the young police officer who wrote up the report did not find her at fault because of this "third party" that could have been a ghost as far as we know.. This person did not actually hit her, so there is no physical evidence of her claim. But because that is what the police report says, of course that is what her insurance company is going by. So her insurance company (geico) is refusing to cover the cost of of my damages, and my insurance company (Nationwide) is refusing to do much about it except pay for my damages and raise my rates!! This a bunch of BS. So can I sue Geico to try and get them to fork out the money since i did NOTHING wrong? If so what kind of lawyer do I need?

Answer: Any ol' personal injury attorney would do it, or someone with a general practice. You will need to bring a claim against the "young and cute" girl, and then her insurance will likely jump in, unless they deny the claim to her also, but that is not likely. If she was not actually hit, then your claim has some legs, in that she was too close to you to avoid an accident, and therefore she does have fault. I'd call a few attorneys and just ask, they are always willing to give free consultations. Although Police reports are great if they support your cause, they don't necessarily make or break a case.