By Maples Law Firm on March 27, 2012 -
If you have been offered a settlement from an insurance company, it may be in your best interest to have a lawyer review the offer before accepting it. It is common for insurance companies to cut corners by offering inadequate settlements or trying to reduce the value of your claim. When a claimant accepts a settlement, he or she will no longer be able to pursue compensation for their loss. Therefore, insurance companies hope that injured victims of Oklahoma car accidents will accept a lower settlement and allow them to close the case without paying out a significant amount. The practice of denying justified claims or offering an unfair settlement is known as “insurance bad faith.”
If you worry that your insurance company is cheating you, there is a good chance that your suspicions are justified. Never assume that your insurance company is being fair and remember that you do not have to accept their first offer. Instead, ask yourself a number of important questions.
What types of losses did you suffer in the accident? How much does your insurance cover? Does the settlement reflect all of the losses you have suffered, including medical bills, time away from work, and future losses that may result from your injuries? If you are being cheated, you may be able to pursue additional compensation through an OK bad faith case against your insurance provider.
The experienced Oklahoma bad faith insurance claim attorneys at Maples Law Firm make sure that our clients are treated fairly. We know how to fight large insurance corporations and how to get our clients the compensation they need and rightfully deserve. Please contact us at (888) 226-6159 today for a free and confidential case evaluation.
By Maples Law Firm on November 16, 2010 -
People purchase insurance coverage in order to protect themselves in the event of an accident or situation that could yield costly medical bills, property damage expenses and other unforeseen monetary losses. Consumers expect that their claims will be handled fairly and that the expenses they incur in these types of situations will be covered by their insurance. However, sadly, this is not always the case.
Insurance companies are in the business of making money and may try to settle claims for less than the amount that is actually owed or covered in the insurance policy. This occurs frequently is cases of Oklahoma auto and truck accidents. Insurance adjusters are paid and promoted based on how little payout the company has to make, therefore, the insurance companies may try to low ball or deny claims altogether, citing fraudulent or false reasons for their decisions. When a policy holder’s trust is violated and they are not treated fairly by the insurance company, this is called “bad faith”.
It is highly advisable to consult an Oklahoma City insurance claim attorney when dealing with an insurance company. Many consumers feel that they must accept a claim denial and that they have no recourse. This is absolutely untrue. Keeping record of all expenses and documentation related to the accident or situation can help significantly when fighting for fair compensation. Additionally, a lawyer who has extensive experience in this area of law knows the ins and outs of how insurance companies work as well as what is legally acceptable and what is not.
At The Maples Law Firm in Oklahoma City, founder and dedicated attorney Ray Maples had worked for insurance companies and now works to help those whose rights are being violated by them. If you or a loved one think you may have an insurance “bad faith” claim, you do not have to face the fight alone. In a free and confidential consultation, Mr. Maples can help you understand your rights and your best options to ensure that you earn the compensation you deserve. Call The Maples Law Firm today at 1(888) 429-0609 to learn more.
By Maples Law Firm on March 30, 2010 -
While many people often connotatively associate the term “whistleblower” with something negative, this is not the case. In fact, individuals who choose to reveal corporate impropriety are providing a valuable service that the United States government appreciates and awards. Qui Tam litigation refers to just that. Specifically, if one party discovers that another party is in some way defrauding the United States government, then the party who informs the government of said fraud is entitled to a certain percentage of the monetary amount that the government was defrauded.
Qui Tam litigation can center around a variety of fraudulent activities in Oklahoma and throughout the United States. According to the False Claims Act, lawsuits may be brought against corporations or other entities that defraud the United States government by:
- Filing inaccurate paperwork that results in greater monetary disbursement being awarded to a company or other entity on behalf of the federal government
- Conspiring to commit a false claim that would result in monetary disbursement being awarded to a company or other entity from the federal government, even though such disbursement is not justified
- Delivering a false receipt to the government for its property or other assets
- Making a false statement to the government in order to avoid having to pay a debt or provide some other reimbursement to the government for property
Often times, false statements and field claims are made in the healthcare sector, with physicians or other medical professionals overbilling the government or seeking excess federal funding or reimbursement for services that were never performed in the first place. Acts like this increase government spending, which is ultimately connected to federal income tax rates that affect all United States citizens. Whistleblowers, therefore, are nothing more than individuals concerned with the well-being of the federal government, our way of life, and who are concerned that a stop is put to fraudulent activity of all kinds.
At Maples Law Firm, instances involving the False Claims Act are taken very seriously. If you have information pertaining to defrauding of the government, please don’t hesitate to contact our attorneys today for more information and a free case consultation. Call us today at 1-888-429-0609 and allow us to help your case.
