Are there time limits on my stating a claim of bad faith following the denial of my claim?
Yes, as indicated above, most insurance policies have specific time limits on when a claim must be filed after a loss, and also when any lawsuit "on the policy" (a lawsuit seeking contract benefits) must be filed. Beyond those time limits, the law will require that a bad faith claim or lawsuit be filed within a certain time following denial of the claim. While there is some question as to what precisely is that time limitation (it varies from state to state, and some state decisions are inconsistent) it is recommended that a bad faith claim or lawsuit be filed as soon as possible, ideally within one year from the date of the denial, in order to be certain that the right to recover certain types of damages (punitive damages for example), is not lost. |