Jefferson County · Insurance bad faith
Lakewood Insurance Bad Faith Lawyers
We hold Lakewood insurers accountable when they delay, deny, or underpay your claim—free consultation, no fee unless we recover for you.
How Insurance Bad Faith Claims Work
Bad faith can occur when an insurer fails to treat your claim fairly and promptly. Every policy comes with an implied duty of good faith and fair dealing. If your insurer mishandles your claim, ignores evidence, delays without reason, or denies you benefits you are entitled to under the policy, they may be liable for damages beyond what the policy covers.
We start by reviewing your entire policy and claim file. We examine every letter, email, recorded statement, and internal evaluation your insurer produced. We look at how they investigated, what they knew, when they knew it, and whether their delay or denial was reasonable or driven by a desire to avoid payment. If the evidence shows bad faith, we build a case to recover your unpaid benefits, attorney fees, and additional damages.
What We Look For in Bad Faith Cases
The key to proving bad faith is showing a clear pattern of unreasonable conduct. We examine the insurer's claim file to determine whether they conducted a thorough investigation, whether they ignored or misrepresented evidence, whether they failed to communicate with you, and whether any delay served only their financial interest. We also review internal notes and reserve files—documents often revealed only during litigation—that show what the company actually believed about your claim.
We gather your policy documents, all correspondence with the insurer, medical records and receipts you submitted, wage loss statements, recorded statements if any, and a complete timeline of events. We also obtain the insurer's handling records, underwriting notes, and claim adjustments through discovery. This combination of evidence shows the full picture of how your claim was treated and whether the insurer's conduct fell below the standard required by Colorado law.
Local investigations may involve Lakewood Police Department, policies covering Lakewood residents and disputes that may proceed in Jefferson County Courts in Golden.
Gather and organize these materials to support a bad faith claim against an insurer:
- Original insurance policy and all endorsements
- Complete claim file, including internal notes and reserves
- Written claim submission (date, method, and confirmation)
- All correspondence from the insurer (letters, emails, denials)
- Recorded statements or interviews given to the insurer
- Medical records and bills submitted with the claim
- Wage loss statements and employment verification submitted
- Coverage determination letters and written explanations for any denial
- Payment records (if partial payment was made)
- Internal insurer evaluations, damage estimates, or medical reviews
- Timeline of all contacts with the insurer (dates, names, phone calls)
- Proof of any delays or missed response deadlines
- Communications with the Lakewood Police Department if claim involves a motor vehicle accident
- Records from CommonSpirit St. Anthony Hospital or other treatment providers
- Any prior claim history with the same insurer
- Documentation of financial harm caused by the delay or denial
Medical Evidence and Policy Coverage
In uninsured and underinsured motorist claims, or medical payment claims, the insurer's duty includes a reasonable investigation of causation and reasonable medical expenses. If your insurer improperly denied coverage for medical treatment, failed to verify facts before denying your claim, or refused to acknowledge clear policy language, that conduct may constitute bad faith.
We work with medical professionals and economists to document the treatment you received, its necessity, and its connection to the incident. We also trace how your insurer addressed—or failed to address—these medical facts in their claim evaluation. If they ignored medical records, applied the wrong standard, or denied coverage without a legitimate basis, we establish that violation as part of the bad faith case.
Official Lakewood hospital, report, crash-record, and court links →
Examples of Damages in Bad Faith Cases
- Unpaid policy benefits—the full amount owed under the policy terms
- Consequential damages—additional financial harm caused by the delay or denial, such as medical debt, credit harm, or additional losses
- Attorney fees and costs—recovered from the insurer in bad faith cases under Colorado law
- Compound interest and prejudgment interest on unpaid benefits
- Punitive damages—if the insurer's conduct was reckless or willful, available in Jefferson County Courts
We present these claims in Jefferson County Courts in Golden, prepared to demonstrate the insurer's breach and hold them accountable for the full scope of harm.
What clients say about McCormick & Murphy
Real outcomes and reviews. Check Google reviews for the office that serves Lakewood — 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.
Lakewood Insurance bad faith FAQ
What exactly is insurance bad faith, and how does it apply to claims in Lakewood?
Bad faith can occur when an insurer refuses to evaluate your claim fairly or delays paying a covered benefit without a reasonable basis. In Colorado, an insurer must investigate promptly, communicate clearly, and pay valid claims. Bad faith can involve underpayment, denial despite coverage, unexplained delays, or failure to acknowledge a claim. If you have a policy with coverage and the insurer has unreasonably withheld or delayed payment, you may have a bad faith claim regardless of where in Lakewood or Jefferson County you live or where the incident occurred.
How long do I have to file a bad faith claim in Jefferson County?
Colorado law ties bad faith deadlines to the underlying claim and the insurer's conduct. The timing depends on your specific policy, the type of benefit you are claiming, when the improper delay or denial occurred, and which claims are available under Colorado law. Because deadlines vary widely, you should preserve your complete policy and claim timeline immediately and have a lawyer review your situation promptly to avoid losing your right to sue.
What documents should I keep if the insurer denies or delays my claim?
Keep everything related to your claim: the original policy, every email or letter from the insurer, any recorded statements you gave, medical bills and records you submitted, proof of any payments made, internal insurer documents obtained later in litigation, and a detailed log of every contact with the insurer including dates, names, and what was discussed. If your claim involves an accident on U.S. Highway 6, West Colfax Avenue, Wadsworth Boulevard, or Kipling Street, also save the police report and any photographs. These materials are critical to proving the insurer acted unreasonably.
How does McCormick & Murphy charge for insurance bad faith cases?
McCormick & Murphy handles bad faith claims on a contingency fee basis. That means you pay no attorney fee unless the case is settled or won. If the case is successful, the firm takes a percentage of the recovery as its fee. Any costs advanced by the firm to investigate, obtain records, and prepare the case—such as filing fees or expert reports—are separate from the attorney fee and are discussed with you upfront.
Where would my bad faith case be filed if I live in Lakewood?
Bad faith claims arising from incidents or policy issues in Lakewood are typically filed in Jefferson County Courts in Golden. The court that has jurisdiction may depend on where the claim was handled, where you live, where the insured event occurred, and other factors. McCormick & Murphy, based in Denver, handles cases throughout the Denver metro area including Lakewood, Wheat Ridge, Golden, Arvada, and Morrison, and will determine the correct venue for your claim.
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