Bad Faith Insurance Lawyer
in Tampa, FL
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A bad faith insurance lawyer Tampa policyholders trust can help when an insurance company refuses to honor the very promises it made when collecting your premiums. Many people assume that if they faithfully pay for coverage, their insurer will respond fairly when a legitimate claim is filed. Unfortunately, our team has seen many situations where insurance carriers prioritize protecting corporate profits over honoring valid claims.
Insurance bad faith occurs when an insurer unreasonably denies, delays, underpays, or mishandles a valid claim instead of acting fairly toward the policyholder.
These disputes affect homeowners, drivers, business owners, and families throughout Tampa. Following major storms, property owners often find themselves trapped in lengthy disputes involving wind damage, roof damage, water intrusion, and coverage interpretations.
Whether you are fighting a wind-driven roof damage denial on a historic home in Seminole Heights or Ybor City, adjusting a complex commercial business interruption claim for an office complex in Westshore, or dealing with an auto insurer stalling a claim after a multi-vehicle wreck on Dale Mabry Highway, insurance carriers are bound by the same strict obligations under Florida law.
Along waterfront areas of Tampa Bay and throughout Hillsborough County, policyholders sometimes face insurers attempting to shift responsibility between flood policies and property policies rather than addressing the actual damage.
Auto insurance disputes are equally common. Heavy traffic along I-275, Dale Mabry Highway, and Hillsborough Avenue generates a steady flow of accident claims. In some situations, insurance carriers delay investigations, dispute liability despite clear evidence, or make settlement offers that fail to account for the true value of a claim.
One of the most frustrating realities for policyholders is that insurance companies often possess significantly greater resources than the people they insure. Large carriers employ adjusters, investigators, consultants, and legal teams whose primary objective is to limit financial exposure.
In our experience, one of the most common warning signs of bad faith is repeated requests for additional information after the insurer already possesses sufficient documentation to evaluate the claim. These delays can leave Tampa families paying for temporary housing, vehicle repairs, medical treatment, or business interruptions while the insurer continues postponing a decision.
Florida law provides protections for policyholders facing these situations. When an insurer acts unreasonably, policyholders may have legal remedies beyond the value of the original claim itself.
If you believe your insurer has delayed, denied, underpaid, or mishandled a legitimate claim, speaking with a Tampa personal injury lawyer can help you understand your legal options and determine whether bad faith conduct occurred.
Do not let an insurance company dictate the outcome of your claim. Speak with our team today for a free case evaluation.
How It Works
No Upfront Fees
Many policyholders hesitate to challenge an insurance company because they worry about legal costs.
Our firm handles bad faith insurance litigation on a contingency fee basis. You do not pay any upfront attorney fees to have your claim reviewed or investigated.
We Advance All Case Costs
Insurance disputes often require substantial resources.
Policy reviews, expert evaluations, claim file analysis, depositions, discovery requests, and litigation expenses can become costly. Our team advances those costs so you can focus on protecting your financial future rather than worrying about legal expenses.
Pay Only If We Win
Our fee comes from the compensation we recover on your behalf.
If we do not obtain a recovery, you owe us nothing.
That arrangement allows policyholders to stand up to powerful insurance carriers without taking on additional financial risk.
Why Choose Ligori & Ligori for Your
Bad Faith Insurance Case in Tampa, FL
Insurance bad faith cases require a different strategy than many traditional injury claims.
The dispute is often not about whether a loss occurred. Instead, the fight centers on how the insurer handled its obligations after the claim was filed. That distinction makes evidence, documentation, and litigation strategy especially important.
Our team understands how insurance companies operate because we regularly deal with their tactics. We have seen situations where adjusters repeatedly request information that was already provided. We have encountered carriers that misinterpret policy language, ignore favorable evidence, or delay decisions in hopes that policyholders become financially desperate enough to accept less than they deserve.
Keith Ligori approaches these disputes with the same trial-focused mindset that has helped our firm secure significant results for clients throughout Florida.
Many insurance companies are willing to delay claims for months because they believe most policyholders will eventually give up. That calculation often changes when they realize experienced trial counsel is preparing the case for litigation.
In our experience, some of the strongest bad faith claims begin with seemingly routine disputes. A denied roof claim in Seminole Heights. A commercial property loss dispute in Westshore. A delayed auto claim following a major collision on I-275. A low settlement offer after a catastrophic injury crash on Dale Mabry Highway. Once claim files, internal communications, and investigation records are examined, a very different story often emerges.
Our Florida Trial Credentials
- AV Preeminent Peer Rated for Highest Level of Professional Excellence
- Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum Member
- The Florida Bar
- Florida Justice Association
- American Association for Justice
If you need guidance from experienced Florida trial attorneys, our team is prepared to help.
Common Insurance Bad Faith Practices
Most policyholders do not realize that bad faith rarely begins with an outright denial. In many cases, the process starts with smaller actions designed to create delay, confusion, or financial pressure.
Stalling Claim Investigations
One of the most common tactics involves delaying the investigation process.
An insurer may repeatedly request additional documentation, schedule multiple inspections, or transfer the file between adjusters. While each request may appear reasonable in isolation, the cumulative effect can significantly delay payment.
For Tampa homeowners dealing with hurricane-related property damage, these delays can be especially harmful. Families may be forced to pay for temporary repairs, mitigation services, or alternative housing while waiting for a decision that should have been made weeks earlier.
Common Insurance Bad Faith Practices
Most policyholders do not realize that bad faith rarely begins with an outright denial. In many cases, the process starts with smaller actions designed to create delay, confusion, or financial pressure.
Stalling Claim Investigations
One of the most common tactics involves delaying the investigation process.
An insurer may repeatedly request additional documentation, schedule multiple inspections, or transfer the file between adjusters. While each request may appear reasonable in isolation, the cumulative effect can significantly delay payment.
For Tampa homeowners dealing with hurricane-related property damage, these delays can be especially harmful. Families may be forced to pay for temporary repairs, mitigation services, or alternative housing while waiting for a decision that should have been made weeks earlier.
Intentionally Misinterpreting Policy Language
Insurance policies can be lengthy and complicated.
Some insurers attempt to exploit that complexity by interpreting policy provisions as narrowly as possible. Coverage that should apply may suddenly become “excluded” through an interpretation that was never explained when the policy was purchased.
This issue often appears in disputes involving storm damage, water intrusion, commercial property claims, and business interruption coverage.
Refusing to Pay Clear Limits
Insurance companies have a duty to evaluate claims fairly.
When liability is clear and damages exceed policy limits, some carriers nevertheless refuse to resolve the claim. Their objective may be preserving corporate funds rather than protecting the policyholder’s interests.
These situations frequently arise in serious vehicle accident cases involving catastrophic injuries and substantial damages.
Lowball Settlement Offers
Lowball offers represent another common form of bad faith conduct.
A carrier may acknowledge that coverage exists while offering a settlement amount that bears little relationship to the actual value of the claim. The insurer hopes the claimant will accept less than they deserve rather than continue fighting.
Failure to Properly Communicate
Policyholders deserve clear communication regarding their claims.
Ignoring correspondence, failing to explain coverage decisions, and refusing to provide meaningful updates can all create additional evidence of unreasonable claim handling.
What to Do If Your Insurance Claim Is Denied
Receiving a denial letter does not necessarily mean the insurer’s decision is correct.
Many valid claims are denied based on incomplete investigations, questionable policy interpretations, or inadequate review of available evidence.
The first step is obtaining a complete explanation for the denial.
Review the insurer’s written decision carefully. Pay close attention to the policy provisions cited and the reasoning provided for the denial.
Next, preserve every document associated with the claim.
Important evidence may include:
- Insurance policies
- Correspondence
- Emails
- Inspection reports
- Photographs
- Repair estimates
- Medical records
- Claim notes
Do not assume the insurer has accurately described the facts or policy language.
In our experience, many policyholders discover significant discrepancies after a detailed legal review of the claim file.
Avoid accepting an unfavorable decision without understanding your rights.
Insurance carriers count on the fact that most consumers never challenge denials. A thorough legal evaluation may reveal additional remedies that are not discussed in the insurer’s correspondence.
If your dispute originated from a vehicle collision, our team also handles car accident injury claims involving insurers who fail to act fairly toward policyholders.
First-Party vs. Third-Party Bad Faith Claims
Florida recognizes both first-party and third-party bad faith claims.
Understanding the difference is important because the legal duties involved are not identical.
First-Party Bad Faith Claims
A first-party claim involves a dispute between the policyholder and their own insurance company.
Examples may include:
- Homeowner's insurance claims
- Property damage claims
- Business insurance claims
- Certain uninsured motorist claims
- Personal insurance coverage disputes
The policyholder seeks benefits directly from the insurer under the policy.
When the insurer unreasonably delays, denies, or underpays a covered claim, bad faith liability may arise.
Third-Party Bad Faith Claims
Third-party bad faith disputes often arise when an insurer fails to protect its insured from exposure to excess liability.
For example, an insurance company may refuse to settle a clear liability claim within policy limits even though doing so would protect its insured.
If the case later results in a judgment exceeding policy limits, the insurer’s conduct may create additional liability exposure.
Why the Distinction Matters
First-party and third-party claims often involve different legal analyses, evidence requirements, and damages.
Florida courts closely examine how the insurer handled the claim, whether opportunities to resolve the dispute existed, and whether the insurer placed its own interests above those of the insured.
Many policyholders do not realize they may possess rights beyond the value of the original claim itself.
When bad faith conduct causes additional financial harm, additional damages may become recoverable.
What Compensation Can You Recover?
A successful bad faith insurance claim may involve compensation beyond the amount originally owed under the policy.
The specific damages available depend on the facts of the case and the nature of the insurer’s conduct.
Potential compensation may include:
- Unpaid policy benefits
- Additional financial losses caused by the delay
- Property damage losses
- Business interruption losses
- Litigation expenses where permitted
- Consequential damages
- Interest on delayed payments
In severe situations, policyholders may suffer substantial secondary losses because an insurer failed to act promptly.
A homeowner waiting months for a valid property damage payment may incur additional repair costs. A business owner facing a prolonged claim dispute may experience operational losses. An accident victim dealing with delayed benefits may face mounting financial pressure.
Our team evaluates both the original claim and the broader consequences of the insurer’s conduct.
When an insurance company places corporate profits ahead of its contractual obligations, the resulting damages often extend far beyond the original dispute.
How We Handle Insurance Dispute Litigation
Insurance companies spend enormous resources preparing claims defenses. Policyholders deserve representation that is equally prepared.
Our approach begins with a complete review of the claim history.
We examine policy language, denial letters, internal insurer communications, claim handling timelines, adjuster reports, inspection findings, and all documentation associated with the dispute. In many cases, the most revealing evidence is not the denial itself but the actions taken before the denial was issued.
In our experience, insurance carriers sometimes create the delay through a series of seemingly minor decisions. Requests for duplicate records, repeated inspections, shifting explanations, and unexplained inactivity may all become important evidence when viewed together.
Our investigation often focuses on:
- Claim handling timelines
- Internal insurer communications
- Policy interpretation decisions
- Settlement opportunities
- Inspection reports
- Expert findings
- Adjuster notes
- Correspondence history
We also evaluate whether the insurer complied with its obligations under Florida law and whether the company placed its own financial interests ahead of the policyholder’s rights.
When necessary, our team utilizes discovery procedures to obtain information that insurance companies would prefer remain private. Internal communications, training materials, claim handling practices, and settlement evaluations often reveal how a claim was actually handled behind the scenes.
Keith Ligori prepares these cases with the expectation that they may ultimately be decided in court.
Insurance companies understand the difference between a lawyer seeking a quick settlement and a trial attorney willing to present evidence before a jury. That distinction can significantly affect how a claim is evaluated and resolved.
If litigation becomes necessary, our team is prepared to pursue accountability aggressively and force insurers to explain their conduct under oath.
Florida Bad Faith Insurance Laws You Should Know
Florida law imposes important obligations on insurance companies.
While insurers have the right to investigate claims, they must also act fairly, honestly, and reasonably toward policyholders and insured individuals.
Florida Statutory Protections
Florida’s insurance laws provide remedies when carriers fail to fulfill their obligations.
Policyholders may be able to pursue bad faith claims when insurers:
- Fail to properly investigate claims
- Unreasonably delay decisions
- Misrepresent policy provisions
- Refuse to settle valid claims
- Ignore evidence supporting coverage
- Place corporate financial interests ahead of policyholder interests
The Florida Legislature maintains statutes governing insurer responsibilities and claim handling requirements.
Importantly, current Florida law makes clear that mere negligence alone does not constitute bad faith. An insurance company may make mistakes during claim handling without automatically creating bad faith liability.
Courts instead examine the totality of the circumstances to determine whether the insurer acted fairly and honestly toward its insured while giving appropriate consideration to the insured’s interests.
The Civil Remedy Notice Requirement Under Florida Statute § 624.155
One of the most important aspects of Florida bad faith litigation is the Civil Remedy Notice (CRN) process.
Before many bad faith lawsuits may proceed, Florida Statute § 624.155 requires policyholders to file a Civil Remedy Notice identifying the insurer’s alleged misconduct. This notice is filed with the Florida Department of Financial Services and generally provides the insurance company with an opportunity to “cure” the alleged violation before bad faith litigation moves forward.
The cure process remains a critical component of many first-party bad faith claims involving property damage disputes, homeowner’s insurance claims, and other coverage disagreements.
However, recent Florida tort reform legislation under HB 837 created additional protections applicable to certain third-party liability claims.
Under the current statute, a liability insurer may receive a 90-day safe harbor period to tender the lesser of the policy limits or the amount demanded by the claimant. If the insurer satisfies the statutory requirements during that period, a bad faith action may be barred.
Understanding the distinction between traditional CRN procedures and the newer third-party liability safe harbor provisions is critical because the legal strategy often depends on the type of claim involved.
In practice, these statutory timelines frequently become major battlegrounds.
A carrier that genuinely intends to resolve a dispute may use the applicable cure or safe harbor period to address the alleged misconduct. Other insurers may continue defending a denial, delay, or low-value position despite clear evidence supporting coverage.
Because procedural compliance can directly affect a policyholder’s rights, early legal involvement is often essential.
Why Timing Matters
One of the most important realities in bad faith litigation is that evidence often becomes harder to obtain over time.
Claim files evolve. Personnel change. Memories fade. Electronic records may become more difficult to locate.
Early legal involvement allows policyholders to preserve evidence, evaluate potential bad faith conduct, and properly comply with statutory notice requirements before critical deadlines become an issue.
Corporate Profit Versus Policyholder Protection
Many bad faith disputes ultimately come down to a simple issue.
The insurer had an opportunity to resolve the claim fairly but chose instead to protect corporate financial interests.
When that decision causes additional harm to the policyholder, Florida law may provide remedies beyond the value of the original claim itself.
The goal of bad faith litigation is accountability.
Insurance companies collect premiums based on promises. When those promises are broken, policyholders deserve the opportunity to pursue justice.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bad Faith Insurance Lawyer in Tampa, FL
What is insurance bad faith in Florida?
Insurance bad faith occurs when an insurer unreasonably denies, delays, underpays, or mishandles a valid claim instead of acting fairly toward the policyholder.
Can I sue my insurance company for denying a valid claim?
Yes. If an insurance company wrongfully denies or mishandles a covered claim, Florida law may allow you to pursue a bad faith insurance claim.
How do I know if my insurer is acting in bad faith?
Warning signs include unreasonable delays, repeated requests for information already provided, unexplained claim denials, lowball settlement offers, and refusal to meaningfully communicate about the claim.
What are common examples of insurance bad faith?
Common examples include delaying investigations, misrepresenting policy language, refusing to settle valid claims, and making unreasonably low settlement offers.
Can I recover more than the original value of my claim?
Potentially, yes. Depending on the circumstances, Florida law may allow recovery of damages beyond the original policy benefits when bad faith conduct causes additional losses.
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Where to Find Us in Tampa
Tampa Office
1711 West Kennedy Blvd. 3rd Floor
Tampa, FL 33606
Our office proudly serves policyholders and injury victims throughout Tampa and Hillsborough County.
Whether you are dealing with a disputed hurricane damage claim involving a historic property in Ybor City, a roof damage denial affecting a home in Seminole Heights, a commercial insurance dispute involving a business in Westshore, or an auto insurance claim arising from a collision on I-275, Dale Mabry Highway, or Hillsborough Avenue, our team is available to help.
We regularly assist clients from:
- South Tampa
- Downtown Tampa
- Westshore
- Carrollwood
- Brandon
- Riverview
- Temple Terrace
- Seminole Heights
- New Tampa
- Ybor City
Whether your dispute involves a property claim, an automobile insurance claim, a business loss, or a personal injury matter, our team is available to discuss your options.
Personal Injury Claims We Handle
Every abuse and neglect case presents unique facts, but many stem from the same underlying problems: inadequate staffing, poor supervision, insufficient training, and failure to follow resident care plans.
Our firm handles claims involving:
Whether your injury occurred at a Clearwater Beach resort, a retail property along US-19, or another commercial location within Pinellas County, our team is prepared to investigate and pursue compensation.
Contact a Tampa Bad Faith Insurance Lawyer Today
Insurance companies shouldn’t profit from delaying, denying, or lowballing valid claims. If your insurer has acted unfairly or misrepresented your policy, Ligori & Ligori Attorneys at Law can help. We know the tactics insurance companies use and how to hold them accountable for bad faith conduct. Contact us today for a free consultation to review your claim and protect your rights.
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