Jefferson County · Insurance bad faith
Golden Insurance Bad Faith Lawyers
Golden insurers denying or delaying your claim? We investigate bad-faith handling and recover on contingency—no fee unless we win.
Insurance Bad Faith Claims in Golden
An insurance company has a legal duty to handle your claim fairly and without unreasonable delay. That duty applies to uninsured motorist (UM) and underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage, as well as first-party medical payments and collision benefits. If your insurer ignores medical evidence, misapplies policy language, or simply sits on your claim without explanation, that conduct may cross the line into bad faith.
Collisions on Washington Avenue, Colorado Highway 93, and I-70 near Golden and Lakewood are common. After the crash, you follow your insurer's instructions, submit medical records and wage loss documentation, and wait for a fair evaluation. When the insurer's response is silence, a low reserve, or an unjustified denial, we step in to hold them accountable.
How We Prove Bad Faith Handling
Bad faith rests on the policy language, your documented claim, the insurer's investigation (or lack thereof), and their stated reason—or lack of reason—for delay or denial. We obtain the claim file through discovery, including internal evaluations, reserve amounts, adjuster notes, and all correspondence. That timeline and those documents show whether the insurer acted reasonably or fell short of its legal duty.
We also examine what the insurer knew and when. Medical records you submitted, wage loss statements, recorded statements given to the adjuster, coverage letters, and payment records all paint a picture of claim handling. If the insurer's explanation does not match the facts or the policy, or if no explanation was given at all, the evidence supports your bad faith claim before Jefferson County Courts.
Local investigations may involve Golden Police Department and Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, policies covering Golden residents and disputes that may proceed in Jefferson County Courts.
Washington Avenue and Highway 93 toward Idaho Springs are recurring local collision corridors.
Gather and organize these materials to support a bad faith claim against your insurer:
- Original insurance policy and all amendments, endorsements, and renewal documents
- Initial claim submission and proof of filing (email, letter, or receipt)
- All written correspondence from the insurer, including claim acknowledgments and status updates
- Coverage determination letters, denial letters, and explanations of benefits
- Medical records, bills, and wage loss documentation you submitted to the insurer
- Any recorded statements or interviews conducted by the insurer's adjuster
- Internal claim file documents obtained during litigation discovery
- Payment history and reserve amounts set by the insurer
- Timeline of events showing dates of claim filing, requests for information, and delays
- Documentation of uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage details if applicable
- Records from CommonSpirit St. Anthony Hospital in Lakewood or other treatment providers
- Police or accident reports from Golden Police Department or Jefferson County Sheriff's Office
- Communications with the insurer's claims department, supervisors, or counsel
- Any prior insurance disputes or patterns of delayed claims with the same insurer
Medical Records and Damages in Bad Faith
Your medical treatment from CommonSpirit St. Anthony Hospital in Lakewood or another provider is central to your claim. The insurer must review those records in light of the policy and applicable law. If the insurer ignores material medical evidence, mischaracterizes your injuries, or denies coverage despite clear policy language, that conduct forms the basis of bad faith.
Damages in a bad faith case include the unpaid or underpaid benefit itself, interest on delayed payments, your attorney fees, and compensation for the distress, inconvenience, and financial harm caused by the insurer's wrongful conduct. Colorado law allows these remedies when an insurer acts without a reasonable basis or fails to investigate a claim.
Official Golden hospital, report, crash-record, and court links →
Examples of Recovery in Bad Faith Cases
- The full unpaid or wrongfully underpaid insurance benefit
- Statutory interest on the delayed or denied amount
- Your reasonable attorney fees and litigation costs
- Compensation for emotional distress, inconvenience, and financial hardship caused by the bad faith handling
- Punitive damages if the insurer's conduct was particularly reckless or intentional
These claims are resolved through settlement or trial in Jefferson County Courts, where the jury can award both compensatory and punitive damages.
What clients say about McCormick & Murphy
Real outcomes and reviews. Check Google reviews for the office that serves Golden — 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.
Golden Insurance bad faith FAQ
What counts as bad faith by an insurance company in Golden?
Bad faith can occur when an insurer unreasonably delays, denies, or underpays a claim without proper investigation or a legitimate basis. In Colorado, an insurer has a duty to investigate fairly, communicate clearly, and decide promptly. Examples include ignoring medical evidence, failing to respond to your claim submissions, or denying uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage without reviewing the policy language. We review the insurer's file, communications timeline, and stated reasons for denial to determine whether their conduct fell below the legal standard.
How long do I have to file a bad faith lawsuit after my claim is denied?
Deadlines for bad faith claims depend on the policy terms, when you discovered the unreasonable conduct, and what type of benefit is involved (first-party medical, uninsured motorist coverage, etc.). Colorado law requires you to act within a reasonable time once you know or should know the insurer is acting in bad faith. Because deadlines vary, contact us promptly after a denial or unexplained delay. We will review your complete claim timeline and the specific facts to determine what deadlines apply and ensure your claim is preserved.
Do I need to prove the insurer acted intentionally to win a bad faith case?
No. In Colorado, bad faith includes both intentional conduct and reckless disregard for your rights. An insurer does not have to act deliberately; an unreasonable decision made without proper investigation, or a delay without justification, can constitute bad faith. We examine whether the insurer's investigation was thorough, whether they ignored evidence you provided, and whether their timeline for responding was reasonable given the facts of your accident on Washington Avenue, Highway 93, or elsewhere in the Golden area.
What damages can I recover in a bad faith insurance claim?
You may recover the unpaid benefit amount, consequential damages (such as medical bills, lost wages, or costs incurred due to the delay), emotional distress, and in some cases attorney fees and interest. Punitive damages are available if the insurer's conduct was particularly reckless or dishonest. We calculate damages based on the benefit you should have received, the financial harm caused by the delay or denial, and the nature of the insurer's wrongdoing.
How does McCormick & Murphy charge for bad faith claims?
We handle injury and insurance claims on a contingency fee basis. This means we only earn an attorney fee if your case is settled or won. There is no fee if we do not recover money for you. Costs for case expenses, such as obtaining medical records from CommonSpirit St. Anthony Hospital in Lakewood or court filing fees, are separate from the attorney fee and are discussed with you upfront.
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