El Paso County · Insurance bad faith
Security-Widefield Insurance Bad Faith Lawyers
Security-Widefield insurance bad faith claims. We recover unfairly denied or delayed benefits.
Insurance Bad Faith in Security-Widefield
When an insurer delays, denies, or underpays a legitimate claim—especially uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage—you have the right to challenge that decision. Insurers in Colorado must handle first-party claims fairly and in good faith. If your insurer refused to pay, paid less than owed, or stalled without reasonable cause, we can help you hold them accountable. Bad faith claims often arise from traffic accidents on U.S. Highway 85, Bradley Road, or other corridors near Security-Widefield, Fountain, and Colorado Springs.
Our firm reviews your policy, the claim file, and the insurer's handling from start to finish. We investigate whether the denial or delay was reasonable or whether it violated Colorado's covenant of good faith and fair dealing. If the insurer's conduct was unreasonable, you may recover the full claim amount plus damages. A consultation with McCormick & Murphy is free, and we work on contingency—no attorney fee unless we recover for you.
What We Examine in Bad Faith Cases
Bad faith claims require proof that the insurer received a valid claim, failed to investigate fairly, and denied or delayed payment without reasonable cause. We obtain the policy language, all correspondence between you and the insurer, recorded statements, medical and wage records you submitted, coverage letters, payment records, and any internal evaluations or reserves the insurer created. The complete timeline—from claim filing through denial or final payment—is critical.
We also examine whether the insurer's stated reason for denial matches what their own investigation showed. Internal documents often reveal that an adjuster found coverage but recommended denial for financial reasons, or that the insurer ignored medical evidence or made a calculation error. These contradictions form the backbone of a bad faith case in El Paso County Combined Courts.
Local investigations may involve El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, policies covering Security-Widefield residents and disputes that may proceed in El Paso County Combined Courts.
Security-Widefield is an unincorporated community southeast of Colorado Springs. Injury claims from this area often involve Highway 85 / Bradley Road corridors and are venued in El Paso County Combined Courts.
A bad faith claim requires proof that your insurer unreasonably delayed, denied, or underpaid a covered benefit without a valid reason. Gather and preserve the following evidence:
- Original insurance policy and all endorsements or amendments
- Written claim submission and proof of delivery to the insurer
- All correspondence from the insurer, including denial letters, coverage decisions, and explanations for delay
- Recorded statements or recorded phone calls with the insurer's adjuster or claims handler
- Medical records and treatment documentation submitted to support the claim
- Wage loss statements or pay stubs submitted as proof of economic loss
- Internal insurer documents obtained through discovery, such as coverage evaluations, reserve adjustments, or claims notes
- Timeline of all claim events—date filed, dates of requests for information, dates of responses, and date of final decision
- Correspondence showing requests for a written explanation of the denial or delay
- Uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage worksheets or settlement proposals from the insurer
- El Paso County Sheriff's Office accident report or police documentation if the claim arose from a motor vehicle injury
- Medical bills and UCHealth Memorial Hospital Central or other provider invoices related to treatment
Preserving the complete claim-handling record is critical to demonstrating whether the insurer acted reasonably.
Medical Records and Claim Documentation
Your medical records from UCHealth Memorial Hospital Central or your treating provider are central to a bad faith claim. The insurer must consider all relevant medical evidence when evaluating your injury claim. If the insurer ignored your records, mischaracterized your injuries, or relied on a biased medical review, that conduct may constitute bad faith.
Wage loss statements, receipts, bills, and proof of medical treatment strengthen your position. We gather these records and present them alongside the insurer's own investigation to show whether their denial was reasonable. A fair insurer would have paid; an unfair one looked for excuses.
Official Security-Widefield hospital, report, crash-record, and court links →
Examples of Damages in Insurance Bad Faith Claims
- The full amount of the denied or underpaid claim, plus interest from the date of the wrongful denial
- Emotional distress and mental anguish caused by the insurer's bad faith conduct
- Costs of pursuing the claim, including attorney fees and expert witnesses
- Punitive damages if the insurer's conduct was willful and wanton
- Additional damages under Colorado's Unfair Claims Settlement Practices Act for unreasonable denial or delay
Bad faith awards are determined by judge or jury in El Paso County Combined Courts and may exceed the original claim amount.
What clients say about McCormick & Murphy
Real outcomes and reviews. Check Google reviews for the office that serves Security-Widefield — and read client testimonials.
A passenger suffered traumatic brain, neck, and back injuries in a Colorado Springs intersection collision. After the carrier refused a fair number, a jury awarded $295,000 including interest and costs.
El Paso County jury verdict
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case depends on its facts, coverage, venue, and evidence.
Security-Widefield Insurance bad faith FAQ
What is insurance bad faith in Colorado?
Bad faith can occur when an insurance company unreasonably delays, denies, or underpays a claim for a covered benefit without a legitimate reason. Colorado law requires insurers to act fairly and promptly in evaluating first-party claims—claims by the policyholder or a family member. If an insurer fails to do so, the policyholder can bring a bad faith lawsuit seeking damages beyond the unpaid benefit, including attorney fees and emotional distress damages.
How long do I have to file a bad faith claim in Colorado?
Colorado's statute of limitations for bad faith claims is generally two years from the date you knew or should have known of the bad faith conduct. However, insurance deadlines are fact-specific and depend on your policy, the type of benefit you are claiming, the insurer's conduct, and the legal claims available. Do not wait. Preserve your policy and complete claim-handling timeline and contact us promptly for a case-specific review of your deadline.
What evidence do I need to prove bad faith?
You will need the insurance policy itself, proof that you filed a proper claim, copies of all correspondence between you and the insurer, the insurer's investigation file (obtained through discovery in litigation), the stated reason for any delay or denial, and a timeline showing when each step occurred. Medical records, wage loss statements, and internal insurer documents such as coverage evaluations and claims notes are essential to show whether the insurer acted reasonably.
How does McCormick & Murphy charge for bad faith cases?
McCormick & Murphy handles insurance bad faith claims on a contingency fee basis. This means the firm earns an attorney fee only if your case is settled or won. You do not pay the fee upfront. Advanced case costs—such as court filing fees, expert witness fees, and discovery expenses—are separate from the attorney fee and are also typically advanced by the firm, though that arrangement is confirmed at the initial consultation.
Can I pursue a bad faith claim if my injury happened on Highway 85 near Security-Widefield?
Yes. If you were injured in a motor vehicle accident on U.S. Highway 85, Bradley Road, Widefield Boulevard, or other roads in the Security-Widefield area and your insurer has denied or delayed your uninsured or underinsured motorist claim unfairly, you may have a bad faith claim. The case would be handled in El Paso County Combined Courts. McCormick & Murphy's Colorado Springs office can evaluate your claim and the insurer's handling to determine if bad faith occurred.
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929 W Colorado Ave, Colorado Springs, CO 80905
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