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Usually, due to the severity of the injuries their clients have suffered and the circumstances surrounding the accident itself, the injury lawyers at the Indiana / Illinois personal injury law firm Allen Law Group are faced with dealing with insurance companies and their representatives, along with the defendants and their attorneys, due to the insurance policies that apply to the situation. Oftentimes, there will be several defendants and several insurance carriers involved in a case (first party, third party, excess, etc.).

To complicate things, the defendant’s attorney is usually being paid by the insurance company, not the defendant itself. In fact, that defense lawyer may have a significant part of his caseload – and therefore his livelihood – provided by that insurance carrier. This can only increase the influence of the carrier upon the case and needless to say, can pose problems in negotiation, settlement, and trial.

Insurance Companies, Adjusters, Attorneys and the Duty of Good Faith

Insurance companies that cover large corporations — such as trucking companies, commercial airlines, or railways — not only expect tragic accidents to occur periodically based upon their statistics, they prepare for that eventuality. For example, it is not unusual for an insurance adjuster to appear on the scene of a major Big Rig / 18-wheeler accident before the police arrive: the truck driver has been trained to call the company immediately and notify them of any accident, and typically carries a camera to take scene photos. At the scene, the adjuster will begin his investigation of the event for the purpose of defending against the claims that will be made – taking recorded statements, video, and more. Frequently, the insurance company will have its own accident reconstruction expert on the scene in mere hours.

None of this activity in and of itself is illegal. However, the law does require that all these different players on the defense team – the adjuster, the insurance company, the defense attorney – act in good faith when dealing with their own insureds. An adjuster can appear on the scene, but an adjuster is in bad faith if he attempts to get a distraught insured to sign a release of liability. On the other hand, that same adjuster can and often will seduce the accident victim into giving a recorded statement or otherwise harm her case if the victim is not an insured who has paid premiums to that insurance company.

Good faith theoretically extends into the negotiation of an injury or death claim but, again, only to claims made by insureds against their own insurance companies. From a business perspective, the insurance defense position is to settle the matter for as little as possible or delay the claim as long as possible if the accident victim refuses to settle short and demands fair compensation.

In truth, insurance companies have influenced and shaped the laws in most states so the concept of insurance company liability for bad faith is simply that – a concept rarely enforced in practice. Be forewarned: don’t attempt to deal directly with an insurance company in a serious injury or death case. Neither should you expect your own insurance company to act in good faith. Rest assured, without counsel the insurance company will likely win at your expense.

Aggressive, experienced injury lawyers are needed when dealing with sophisticated insurers

Faced with the sophistication of insurance carriers and their cohorts, injury victims and their families need aggressive, experienced personal injury lawyers that are adept at dealing with the realities of how insurance coverage impacts lawsuits today.

For the personal injury lawyers at Allen Law Group, their abilities and determination to fight for their clients is well-known to the major insurance companies. Over the years, it has been made clear: Allen Law Group does not accept large numbers of cases in hopes of settling them en massefor a quick buck. Instead, Allen Law Group is selective in its caseload, and the firm’s trial lawyers are more than willing to go to trial if a legitimate and acceptable settlement is not reached. With this attitude, Allen Law Group ups the insurance company’s risk. Its injury trial lawyers know the law – including the requirements that every insurance company is by statute required to act “in good faith” – and they don’t hesitate to use it.

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Looking for an Illinois attorney?

If you are seeking an Illinois attorney you may review the past verdicts and results obtained for Mr. Allen’s clients by clicking here.

Referrals by attorneys?

If you are an attorney and you wish to refer your client’s case in either Indiana or Illinois for handling by Allen Law Group, you may review past verdicts and results in cases by clicking here.


If you or a loved one has been seriously injured or killed due to the wrongful acts of another, then you may have a legal claim for damages as well as the right to justice against the wrongdoer and you are welcomed to contact the Northwest Indiana and Chicagoland personal injury lawyers at Allen Law Group to schedule a free initial legal consultation.

Contact Us

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured or killed due to the wrongful acts of another, then you may have a legal claim for damages as well as the right to justice against the wrongdoer and you are welcomed to contact the Northwest Indiana and Chicagoland personal injury lawyers at Allen Law Group to schedule a free initial legal consultation.

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    Nearest Office View All Locations
    Allen Law Building
    501 Allen Court, Chesterton, IN
    (219) 465-6292
    Capital Center
    201 N. Illinois Street, Indianapolis, IN
    (317) 842-6926
    Chicago Loop Office
    77 W. Wacker Dr. Suite 4500
    (312) 236-6292
    Justice Center
    3700 E. Lincoln Highway, Merrillville, IN
    (219) 736-6292
    Regency Office Suites
    10062 W. 190th Place, Mokena, IL
    (815) 725-6292
    Orland Park Executive Tower
    15255 S. 94th Avenue, Orland Park, IL
    (708) 460-6292