Wisconsin Insurance Law: Has Bad Faith Happened to You and What Can You Do About It?

In Wisconsin, insurance companies have a duty to handle their insured’s claim in a reasonable and professional manner.  You may have heard stories about insurance companies being ordered to pay huge sums of money for their actions.  This is called “bad faith”.  The law in Wisconsin with respect to bad faith is very similar to the laws around the country.

To establish a claim against your insurance company for their failure to honor your claim you have to prove that they did not have a reasonable basis for denying benefits under your insurance policies and that the insurance company recklessly disregarded and/or lacked a reasonable basis for denying your claim.  If proven, you could be entitled to damages that include your attorney’s fees and costs, damages that cover the claim and any other out-of-pocket expenses, damages for emotional distress as well as punitive damages if the insurance company’s actions were willful and reckless.  The potential for a bad faith claim exists in any situation involving an insurance company in which you have a contract for insurance.  This could be anything from a disability policy, health insurance, auto or homeowner’s insurance and even life insurance.  Any insurance coverage in which you made a claim in which the insurance company either denied completely or denied a portion of your claim without a reasonable basis could entitle you to monetary compensation above and beyond the actual amount of your claim. 

I have been representing individuals with claims against insurance companies for more than 27 years.  Generally, these cases are taken on a contingency fee basis so that you have no obligation for fees until and only if there is a recovery.  If you feel that you have had a claim unreasonably denied by an insurance company for any type of insurance claim please contact me to discuss your legal rights at no cost or obligation.  Please contact me by e-mail at mark@kh-law.net or toll free at (866) 455-2993.

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Stephanie Thompson, Estate Planning Attorney of Krueger Hernandez & Thompson SC

As the owner of Krueger Hernandez & Thompson SC, it is Stephanie’s mission to address each client’s goals for their estate plan. By identifying their wishes and concerns she can educate, guide, and counsel on the different tools and options that will effectively and efficiently accomplish those goals.

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