Arapahoe, Adams, and Douglas counties · Insurance bad faith
Aurora Insurance Bad Faith Lawyers
We hold Aurora insurers accountable when they deny or underpay valid claims, including uninsured motorist disputes.
What Makes a Bad Faith Insurance Claim
Bad faith happens when an insurer fails to evaluate your claim fairly, promptly, or in good faith. After you file a first-party claim—for example, following a crash on East Colfax Avenue or I-225—your insurer has a legal duty to investigate reasonably, communicate clearly, and make a decision based on the policy and the facts. If they sit on your claim, refuse to pay without a legitimate reason, or lowball your settlement without explanation, they may be acting in bad faith.
Colorado law holds insurers to a high standard. They must not prioritize profit over your valid claim. Whether your dispute involves a denial of uninsured motorist benefits, an unreasonably low settlement offer, or a delay that forces you into financial hardship, we analyze the insurer's entire file and timeline to prove they breached their duty to you.
How We Prove Bad Faith
We start by obtaining the complete claim file through discovery: the policy itself, all correspondence between you and the insurer, recorded statements, medical and wage records you submitted, coverage determination letters, payment records, and internal evaluations or reserve notes. This file tells the story of how—or how poorly—the insurer handled your case. We also obtain police reports from the Aurora Police Department and medical records from UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital on the Anschutz Medical Campus if you were treated there.
We then compare the insurer's actions to what the policy required and what Colorado law demands. Did they investigate thoroughly? Did they explain their decision clearly? How long did they take? Were there red flags—like a low reserve, a rushed investigation, or a coverage letter that contradicts the policy language—that show they were looking for a reason to deny rather than looking fairly at your claim? The complete timeline and the gap between what they knew and what they paid reveals the bad faith.
Local investigations may involve Aurora Police Department, policies covering Aurora residents and disputes that may proceed in Arapahoe County Justice Center or the court serving the county where the crash occurred.
Insurance bad faith cases require a complete record of how the insurer handled your claim. Gather and preserve:
- The insurance policy and any amendments or endorsements
- Your original claim submission and proof of delivery
- All written correspondence from the insurer (letters, emails, denials)
- The insurer's written explanation for any delay, reduction, or denial of benefits
- Recorded statements you gave to the insurer or its representatives
- Medical records, bills, and reports you submitted to support the claim
- Wage loss documentation and loss-of-income statements
- Coverage letters or reservation-of-rights letters from the insurer
- Payment records showing what was paid, when, and how much
- Internal insurer documents obtained during discovery (file notes, evaluations, reserves)
- Dates and names of anyone at the Aurora Police Department or UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital who documented your injuries or loss
- Complete timeline of all communications and claim-handling steps
- Any denial letter citing specific policy language or investigation findings
- Photographs or video of vehicle damage if this involves uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage from a crash on E-470, I-225, Parker Road, or East Colfax Avenue
Preserve all originals. Do not discard or delete any document, email, or text related to your claim.
Medical Records and Treatment Documentation
Your medical records are central to proving both the underlying injury and the insurer's bad faith. If you received emergency care at UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital on the Anschutz Medical Campus following the crash, or ongoing treatment at a clinic in Aurora, Centennial, Denver, or elsewhere, those records show the extent of your injuries and the reasonable cost of your care. We obtain all medical documentation and bills to establish what your claim is worth and what the insurer should have known.
We also review the insurer's own medical evaluations, if any, and compare them to your treating physicians' reports. When an insurer relies on a conflicting independent medical exam or ignores medical evidence that supports your claim, that conduct can itself demonstrate bad faith. The insurer must explain discrepancies—not simply reject your doctors' findings without analysis.
Official Aurora hospital, report, crash-record, and court links →
Examples of Damages in a Bad Faith Case
- The unpaid or underpaid portion of your original claim, plus interest from the date of denial or underpayment
- Emotional distress and mental anguish caused by the insurer's unfair handling of your case
- Lost wages or financial hardship caused by unreasonable delay in payment
- Costs of investigation, attorney's fees, and court costs in bad faith litigation
- Punitive damages if the insurer's conduct was reckless or intentional
These claims are filed in the Arapahoe County Justice Center or the court serving the county where your crash occurred, and you may recover far more than the original claim value if bad faith is proven.
What clients say about McCormick & Murphy
Real outcomes and reviews. Check Google reviews for the office that serves Aurora — and read client testimonials.
After I was hit by a drunk driver with no insurance, my own insurer refused UM benefits. McCormick & Murphy sued for uninsured motorist benefits and bad faith. A jury awarded me over $900,000.
C. O., Denver · UM / bad-faith verdict
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case depends on its facts, coverage, venue, and evidence.
Aurora Insurance bad faith FAQ
What makes an insurance company's handling of my Aurora claim 'bad faith'?
Bad faith can occur when an insurer fails to evaluate and handle your first-party claim fairly and promptly. Examples include denying or delaying benefits without a reasonable basis, ignoring medical evidence you submitted, failing to investigate properly, or misrepresenting what the policy covers. Colorado law requires insurers to act in good faith and deal fairly with policyholders. If the insurer's conduct is unreasonable and causes you injury, you may have a claim for bad faith, including damages beyond the original benefit amount.
Does my claim have a deadline, and what should I do right now?
Deadlines depend on your specific policy, the type of benefit you're seeking, and how long the insurer has delayed or denied the claim. Colorado's statute of limitations for bad faith varies. The safest step is to preserve everything—your policy, all correspondence, medical records, claim submissions, and a complete timeline—and contact us promptly for a case-specific review. Waiting can harm your rights, especially if the insurer is still evaluating your claim.
My claim involves underinsured motorist coverage from a crash in Aurora. What do I need to show?
Underinsured motorist (UIM) claims require proof that the at-fault driver's insurance was insufficient to cover your injuries. You must show that you were injured by a negligent third party, that you have valid UIM coverage under your policy, and that the other driver's liability limit is less than your damages. Common issues involve disputes over the value of your claim, settlement approval delays, or the insurer's refusal to advance or pay UIM benefits fairly. We analyze the policy language, the underlying injury facts, and the insurer's evaluation and payment decisions.
What if the insurer denied my claim but won't explain why?
Colorado law requires the insurer to give you a clear, written explanation for any denial or partial denial of a claim. If the insurer has not provided this, or if the explanation is vague or incomplete, that may itself be evidence of bad faith. Request a detailed written statement of the basis for the denial, citing the specific policy language or facts supporting the denial. Keep records of your request and when the insurer responded (or failed to respond). This documentation is critical in a bad faith case.
How much will it cost to hire you to pursue a bad faith claim?
McCormick & Murphy handles injury and bad faith claims on a contingency fee basis. That means we earn an attorney fee only if your case is settled or won; you pay nothing to us if the case does not result in recovery. Advanced case costs—such as filing fees, expert fees, or document retrieval—are separate from the attorney fee and will be discussed with you. We do not take a fee unless we recover money for you.
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