Insurance Companies Cheat Binghamton Injury Victims

Here’s How to Fight Back

After an accident, you expect your insurance company to have your back. You’ve paid your premiums. You’ve done everything right. But when it’s time for them to pay? That’s when they start playing games: delaying, denying, and lowballing you. Sound familiar? You’re not alone, and you don’t have to take it. That’s where experienced personal injury attorneys can step in to help.

At Horn Wright, LLP, we’ve seen the tricks these companies pull. That’s why people looking to fight back often hire one of the best law firms in America. They count on you feeling frustrated and giving up. But here’s the thing. You’ve got options. We fight for Binghamton residents who’ve been mistreated by their insurance providers. If your insurer is trying to cheat you, we’re ready to step in and make things right.

Bad Faith Insurance Practices That Leave People Struggling

Insurance companies are supposed to act in good faith—which means treating you fairly, paying out legitimate claims, and following the rules. But let’s be real. Some of them will do just about anything to avoid paying what they owe. Here’s how they do it:

• Unreasonable delays – They drag their feet, asking for more paperwork, more signatures, more “proof”—anything to buy themselves time. Some claims get stuck in limbo for months or even years because they hope you’ll get frustrated and give up.
• Denying valid claims – You submit a rock-solid claim, and they shoot it down with a vague excuse. In New York, regulators have caught insurers denying claims for no legitimate reason—just to boost their profits.
• Lowball settlement offers – They throw you an insultingly low number and act like they’re doing you a favor. A claim worth $50,000? They might offer $10,000, betting you’ll be too overwhelmed to fight back.
• Misrepresenting policy terms – Ever been told, “Sorry, that’s not covered,” even though your policy says otherwise? Some companies twist policy language to justify underpaying or outright denying claims.
• Ignoring your calls and emails – You follow up. And follow up again. And again. But they go radio silent, hoping you’ll just drop it. Some companies even tell their adjusters to stop responding after a certain point.

How to Spot a Dishonest Insurance Company

Most people trust their insurance company—until they get burned. Don’t wait until it’s too late. Watch for these warning signs:

• They keep asking for the same documents over and over, stalling your claim.
• They take forever to process your claim but give you a tight deadline to accept their lowball offer.
• They ignore or downplay medical reports that prove your injuries.
• They change their reason for denying your claim—first it’s one thing, then another.
• They say your policy doesn’t cover something—but can’t show you where it says that.

If any of this sounds familiar, you’re dealing with a bad faith insurance company.

Steps Binghamton Residents Can Take When Their Insurance Company Won’t Play Fair

If your insurer is giving you the runaround, here’s how to fight back:

• Document everything – Save emails, letters, and notes from phone calls. If New York law allows, record conversations.
• Get their denial in writing – Demand a written explanation for any denial or delay, as required under New York Insurance Law § 2601. In New York, they’re legally required to provide one.
• Know your policy – Read through it carefully. Don’t take their word for what’s covered—see for yourself.
• File a complaint – Report them to the New York Department of Financial Services. If they’re acting in bad faith, regulators need to know.
• Talk to a lawyer – Bad faith insurance cases can be complex. A lawyer can force the insurer to play fair—and possibly get you extra compensation for the stress they’ve put you through. Working with personal injury attorneys can help level the playing field.

How Greedy Insurance Companies Trick You With Delays, Denials & Lowball Offers

Insurance companies don’t just flat-out refuse to pay. They’re more subtle than that. They use tactics designed to confuse, frustrate, and wear you down. Here’s how they try to cheat you:

The Tactics They Hope You Won’t Notice

• Blaming you for your own injuries – They argue you were at fault—even when the facts say otherwise. New York follows comparative negligence, and insurers love to twist this rule to minimize what they owe.
• Cherry-picking evidence – They highlight anything that helps them deny your claim and ignore everything else. Got medical records proving your injuries? They’ll dig through your history, looking for a past injury they can blame instead.
• Creating fake urgency – They tell you, “This is the best offer you’ll get, and it expires soon.” That’s a lie. They just want you to settle before you realize how much your case is actually worth.
• Dragging things out – They know bills pile up. They hope you get so desperate for cash that you accept whatever crumbs they throw your way.
• Burying you in legalese – They send letters full of complicated jargon, making it sound like you have no choice but to accept their decision. You do have a choice—and you don’t have to go through this alone.

Can You Sue? When and How Courts Punish Insurance Companies With Punitive Damages

Yes, you can sue an insurance company for bad faith—and in some cases, courts hit them where it hurts: their wallets. Punitive damages aren’t just about paying you what you’re owed. They’re about punishing the insurer for deliberate dishonesty and making sure they don’t do it again.

Some examples of bad faith that have led to big payouts:

• Blatantly misrepresenting policy terms – Some insurers have been caught outright lying about coverage.
• Denying claims with no valid reason – Companies like Allstate and State Farm have paid massive settlements for shady claim denials.
• Fabricating excuses – Changing their story over and over? That’s a classic bad faith move—and courts don’t look kindly on it.
• Failing to investigate properly – If they didn’t even bother looking into your claim before denying it, that’s bad faith.

If your insurer is acting in bad faith, you could be entitled to way more than just your original claim amount. Courts can award extra compensation for the financial and emotional toll of their dishonest tactics.

Stand Up to Insurance Companies With Horn Wright, LLP

You don’t have to take an insurance company’s nonsense. Not now. Not ever. At Horn Wright, LLP, we know every trick in the book—and we know how to shut them down. If your insurer is stalling, lowballing, or denying your claim for no good reason, we’ll step in and fight for what’s yours. Our team of personal injury attorneys is ready to take on the insurance giants and make sure you get what you’re owed.

Call us today. Let’s make them pay what they owe.