Can I sue my insurance company for costs they forced me to incur after denying a claim?
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Can I sue my insurance company for costs they forced me to incur after denying a claim?
Had water in my basement due to power outage. Called the insurance comp to start a claim. They advised me to call a service company for water remediation. I contacted the insurance company again before the service company came out. Insurance company assured me that everything would be covered to get started. The company came out and did some work and returned 2 days later to remove their equipment. Then the insurance adjuster came. Later I got a call from the main adjuster saying that my claim would be denied because there was no coverage for sump pump overflow. Now I have to pay the service company when I could have done work myself.
Asked on September 8, 2011 under Insurance Law, Maryland
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
If you feel that the insurer was wrong to deny you coverage, you can sue to force them to pay what you feel they should. This would be a lawsuit under the insurance policy, which is a contract, for the insurer's breach of its obligations.
While suing them, you could also sue them for the costs you incurred on reasonable reliance on their statement that the servcie company cost would be covered. If someone makes a representation or promise which it would be reasonable to rely on (i.e. the average person would understandably assume the statement was true) and you incur some loss or cost due to your reliance on it, that can give rise to a cause of action.
Bear in mind that winning is not guaranteed; but from what you write, it may be worthwhile pursuing a claim, possibly (if the amount is $1,200 or less, for example) by representing yourself in court to save lawyer fees (e.g. suing in small claims court).
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