Insurance Coverage: The Protection of Policyholder Rights During Disputes With Insurers

Question: How can I fight an Ontario insurance company that’s denying, delaying, or undervaluing my claim?

Answer: Wennekers.Legal™ provides Legal Services across Ontario to help you respond to wrongful denials, payment delays, low settlement offers, coverage disputes, and broker or agent errors by reviewing your policy and claim file, building evidence, communicating with the insurer, and pursuing negotiation, mediation, or litigation when needed.  Getting legal advice early can protect limitation periods and help you avoid signing a release that cuts off further claim rights.

Troubled Insurance Relations

A legal fight against an insurance company requires special knowledge to help balance the playing field whereas an insurance company will have a large complement of personnel with understanding of the insurance guidelines, laws, regulations, and rules, in addition to the legal process and almost endlessly deep pockets.  These strengths create a David v. Goliath type situation just when the insured person needs help the most; and accordingly, the assistance of professional legal representation helps to ensure that the little guy, being the insured, gets a fair fight against the insurer within the insurance claim process.

Professional Assistance For Your Situation May Be Needed If:

• Your insurer is wrongfully denying your claim;
• Your insurer is undervaluing your claim;
• Your insurer is delaying payment of your claim;
• Your agent or broker failed to adequately explain the coverage exclusions;
• Your agent failed to arrange adequate coverage resulting in an underinsured loss; or
• Your coverage terms such as premiums or deductibles unjustly changed.

Common Issues Include:

Even in situations where all is being well looked after by insurance coverage, assistance in reviewing the final settlement release documents may be available before signing-off of further claim rights.

Assistance may also be available in providing Commissioner of Oaths services to commission sworn declarations including the Proof of Loss documents that finalize the claims process.