In our experience over the years, we’ve learned that there are numerous examples of bad faith insurance practices. For the most part, they all center around an attempt to pay as little as possible, or ideally nothing at all. Here are some of the most common bad faith practices we see: Unreasonable or untenable delays Perhaps the most common tactic insurers employ to avoid paying claims is to simply “wait them out,” or delay the process so long that claimants decide to just pay expenses out of their own pocket. Under Nevada law, insurers must operate within specific timeframes: for the most part, insurers have up to 20 business days to acknowledge receipt of a claim. Then, there is a grace period that lasts 30 days from the date of loss in which they have to respond, and if a claim is ultimately accepted, it must be paid within 30 business days. Delays are frustrating, but they can have real consequences, especially if medical treatments are hanging in the balance. An unexpected or unnecessary delay in treatment can cause your condition to worsen significantly, and if your insurer is acting in bad faith, they can be held liable for the injuries caused by the delays. Denying claims without valid reasoning As you can probably imagine, insurers are required to disclose all of their reasoning for denying a claim. If your claim was denied and your insurer provided you with little to no information as to why it happened, you may have grounds for a bad faith claim. Refusing valid claims The simplest act of bad faith an insurance company can commit is to refuse or deny perfectly valid claims. Sometimes they do make mistakes, but for the most part, denying a valid claim opens the door to a slew of liability risks. Offering much less than a claim warrants One trait that all insurers share is their reluctance to pay full value for claims. As such, it is common practice for them to try to jump in with a settlement offer as quickly as possible, in efforts to lure you away from pursuing a larger claim. While the thought of quick cash may sound appealing when you have painful injuries and rising costs, but make no mistake, an early offer will never equate to the true value of your claim. Offers that are especially sparse can be considered acts of bad faith, but if you accept them, you will surrender your right to pursue a larger amount. Unsatisfactory investigations When insurers receive claims, they are expected to thoroughly investigate them and review all the details. However, sometimes things fall through the cracks, which can cost you money in the end. If a problem occurs due to an inadequate investigation, a bad faith claim may be warranted.