Shrewsbury Insurance Bad Faith Lawyers

When you purchase insurance, you expect it to be there when you need it most. Whether it is health insurance, auto insurance, homeowners coverage, or a business policy, you count on your insurer to live up to its promises and provide financial protection during difficult times. Unfortunately, insurance companies do not always play fair.

At Sanvenero & Cittadino, LLC, our Shrewsbury insurance bad faith lawyers represent policyholders in claims against insurance companies that engage in bad faith practices. Our goal is simple: to hold insurers accountable and to make sure our clients receive the benefits they are entitled to under their policies.

What Is Insurance Bad Faith?

Insurance companies owe a duty of good faith and fair dealing to their policyholders. This means they must evaluate claims honestly, investigate them fairly, and pay valid claims promptly. When an insurer fails to meet this duty, it is said to have acted in bad faith.

Bad faith is more than just a disagreement over coverage or the value of a claim. It involves conduct that shows the insurance company is not living up to its obligations under the policy or under the law. Common examples include unreasonable delays, unjustified denials, or failure to properly investigate a claim. In New Jersey, policyholders have strong legal protections against these practices. Our attorneys know how to identify bad faith and take action to protect your rights.

Examples of Insurance Bad Faith in Shrewsbury

Insurance bad faith can take many forms, depending on the type of policy and the circumstances of the claim. Some common examples include:

• Unreasonable claim denials – Refusing to pay valid claims without a legitimate reason.
• Delaying payment – Dragging out the claims process to pressure policyholders into accepting less than they deserve.
• Failure to investigate – Not conducting a thorough or timely investigation into the claim.
• Lowball offers – Offering far less than the claim is worth in hopes that the policyholder will settle quickly.
• Misrepresentation of policy terms – Misstating or concealing what the policy actually covers.
• Improper reliance on exclusions – Citing policy exclusions that do not apply in order to avoid paying.
• Failure to defend – In liability cases, refusing to defend the insured in a lawsuit or pay a claim even though the policy requires it.

These tactics are designed to protect the insurer’s profits, not the policyholder’s interests. Our attorneys work to level the playing field and hold insurance companies accountable.

Types of Insurance Bad Faith Cases

Sanvenero & Cittadino, LLC represents individuals, families, and businesses in a wide range of bad faith insurance disputes in Shrewsbury, including:

• Homeowners insurance claims – Damage from fire, storm, theft, or other covered losses.
• Auto insurance claims – Coverage disputes involving personal injury protection (PIP), uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, or collision claims.
• Health insurance claims – Wrongful denial of coverage for necessary medical treatment.
• Life insurance claims – Denial of benefits or unjust cancellation of policies.
• Business insurance claims – Disputes involving commercial property coverage, business interruption, liability coverage, and more.

No matter the type of policy, the common thread is that the insurer is not living up to its contractual and legal obligations.

Remedies for Insurance Bad Faith

When an insurance company acts in bad faith, policyholders have several potential remedies under New Jersey law. In addition to recovering the benefits owed under the policy, a successful bad faith claim may also allow the insured to recover:

• Consequential damages – Losses that flow from the insurer’s wrongful conduct, such as additional financial harm caused by delays.
• Punitive damages – In cases of particularly egregious misconduct, courts may award damages designed to punish the insurer and deter similar behavior.
• Attorney’s fees and costs – Reimbursement for the expenses of pursuing the claim.

Our attorneys evaluate each case carefully to determine the appropriate remedies and the best legal strategy to achieve a just outcome.

The Role of Alternative Dispute Resolution in Insurance Disputes

Insurance disputes do not always need to be resolved in court. Mediation, arbitration, and other forms of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) can sometimes provide a faster and more cost-effective solution.

At Sanvenero & Cittadino, LLC, our lawyers are experienced both in litigating bad faith cases and in pursuing favorable results through ADR. We have represented clients in mediation and arbitration, and we have also served as neutrals in these processes. This experience gives us unique insight into how insurance companies approach ADR and how to position our clients for success.

Why Insurance Companies Act in Bad Faith

It may be surprising to learn that bad faith practices are often part of a broader business strategy. Insurance companies are for-profit corporations, and their executives are under pressure to keep claim payouts low in order to maximize profits.

This does not excuse wrongful behavior, but it does help explain why so many policyholders find themselves fighting with insurers even when their claims are valid. By denying or delaying payments, insurers hope that policyholders will simply give up or accept less than they are entitled to.

Our attorneys refuse to let insurers get away with these tactics. We know how to push back and how to build strong cases that demonstrate both the validity of the underlying claim and the insurer’s bad faith conduct.

Why Choose Sanvenero & Cittadino, LLC for Your Insurance Bad Faith Claim?

Bad-faith cases are complex. They require not only a thorough understanding of insurance law but also the skill to stand up to well-funded insurance companies and their legal teams. At Sanvenero & Cittadino, LLC, we bring:

• Extensive litigation experience – We are not afraid to take insurers to court when necessary.
• Local insight – Knowledge of the courts and communities throughout Monmouth, Ocean, and Middlesex counties.
• Personalized representation – Every client receives the time, attention, and respect they deserve.
• Proven negotiation skills – We know how insurers operate and how to counter their tactics.

Our mission is to protect policyholders and ensure that insurance companies live up to their promises.

Talk to a Shrewsbury Insurance Bad Faith Lawyer Today

If your insurance company has denied your claim, delayed payment, or otherwise failed to treat you fairly, you may have a case for insurance bad faith. The sooner you take action, the sooner you can protect your rights and pursue the compensation you are owed.

At Sanvenero & Cittadino, LLC, we are ready to stand by your side and fight for you. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and learn how our experienced attorneys can help you hold your insurer accountable.