Your Insurer May Not Just Be Difficult — They May Be Breaking the Law

What feels like bureaucratic runaround often has a legal name: bad faith. Florida law holds insurers accountable when they delay, misrepresent, or deny valid claims without reasonable justification — and we know how to make that accountability count.

Florida's insurance companies are legally required to handle claims fairly, promptly, and honestly. When they don't, they aren't just frustrating — they may be in violation of Florida Statute § 624.155, the state's bad faith insurance law. At the Law Offices of John Ameen, our bad faith insurance lawyers in Fort Lauderdale evaluate claims across Broward, Palm Beach, and Miami-Dade counties to determine whether your insurer's conduct crosses the legal line.

What Florida Law Considers Bad Faith Insurance Conduct

A bad faith insurance claim is separate from the underlying dispute over your policy. It targets the insurer's conduct itself — and when it succeeds, the damages available to you can exceed the original policy limits. If you've been strung along, underpaid, or shut out of coverage you paid for, a free review with our team will tell you whether you have grounds to act.

What Florida Law Considers Bad Faith Insurance Conduct

Under Florida Statute § 624.155, insurers have a legal duty to act in good faith when handling claims. That duty includes conducting a prompt and thorough investigation, communicating clearly about coverage decisions, and making settlement offers that reflect the actual value of a valid claim. When an insurer deliberately or unreasonably falls short of that standard, it may constitute bad faith under Florida law.

 

The five conduct patterns most commonly seen in bad faith claims include:

 

  • Unnecessary delays in investigating or responding to a claim without explanation
  • Lowball settlement offers that bear no reasonable relationship to the documented loss
  • Failure to conduct a genuine investigation before denying or limiting coverage
  • Misrepresenting policy terms to reduce or avoid a payout
  • Denying a valid claim without a factual or legal basis for the denial

 

These aren't just business practices you have to accept. If your insurer's behavior fits one or more of these patterns, Florida law may give you the right to pursue damages beyond your original claim.

The Civil Remedy Notice: The Step That Changes Everything

Before a bad faith lawsuit can be filed under Florida Statute § 624.155, the insured must file a Civil Remedy Notice (CRN) with the Florida Department of Financial Services and serve a copy on the insurer. This notice gives the insurer 60 days to cure the bad faith conduct — to pay the claim, correct the misrepresentation, or otherwise remedy the violation.

 

Most policyholders and even some attorneys are unaware of this procedural requirement. Filing a CRN correctly, with the right factual allegations and legal framing, is critical. A defective or incomplete CRN can forfeit your right to bring a bad faith claim entirely. Our attorneys have handled this process and understand what the notice must contain to preserve your rights and put maximum pressure on the insurer to act.

 

If the insurer fails to cure within the 60-day window, you have the foundation for a lawsuit — and the CRN itself becomes evidence of the insurer's continued bad faith.

Frequently Asked Questions About Bad Faith Insurance in Florida

Bad faith conduct isn't limited to one category of claim. Florida's bad faith statute applies to insurers across the full spectrum of coverage types. Our attorneys handle bad faith claims arising from:

 

  • Homeowner and property damage claims, including hurricane and storm damage
  • Auto insurance claims involving injury, vehicle damage, or uninsured motorist coverage
  • Business interruption claims where the insurer has denied or delayed coverage for documented losses
  • Disability insurance denials where a valid claim has been improperly rejected
  • Life insurance claim denials made on pretextual or unsupported grounds

 

If your insurer has handled your claim in a way that feels deliberately obstructive, the underlying coverage type doesn't limit your options. We evaluate bad faith conduct wherever it occurs.

  • What is bad faith insurance under Florida law?

    Bad faith insurance occurs when an insurer fails to handle a claim with the fairness, honesty, and promptness the law requires. Under Florida Statute § 624.155, insurers that delay, misrepresent policy terms, conduct inadequate investigations, or deny valid claims without reasonable justification can be held liable for bad faith — and the damages available can exceed the original policy limits.

  • What is a Civil Remedy Notice and do I need one before filing a bad faith lawsuit?

    Yes. Before filing a bad faith lawsuit under Florida Statute § 624.155, you must first file a Civil Remedy Notice with the Florida Department of Financial Services and serve it on the insurer. This gives the insurer 60 days to cure the alleged bad faith conduct. If the insurer fails to act within that window, you have the basis for a lawsuit. Filing the CRN correctly is critical — a defective notice can forfeit your right to bring the claim.

  • How much does it cost to hire a bad faith insurance lawyer in Fort Lauderdale?

    In most bad faith cases, our attorneys work on a contingency basis, meaning you pay no upfront fees. Additionally, Florida's bad faith statute provides for attorney fee shifting — when a bad faith claim succeeds, the insurer can be required to pay your attorney fees directly. The cost of legal representation is rarely a barrier in legitimate bad faith cases.

  • How do I know if my insurer acted in bad faith or was just slow?

    The distinction between poor service and actionable bad faith depends on the insurer's conduct, its justification for that conduct, and the overall pattern of how your claim was handled. Our attorneys examine your claim timeline, adjuster communications, internal documentation, and offer history to make that determination. A free consultation will give you a clear answer.

  • What damages can I recover in a Florida bad faith insurance claim?

    In a successful bad faith claim, you may recover the full value of your underlying claim, consequential damages caused by the insurer's conduct, and attorney fees. In cases involving intentional or egregious conduct, additional damages may be available. Because bad faith damages can exceed policy limits, the financial stakes of pursuing a bad faith claim are often substantially higher than those of the original coverage dispute.

  • Does the bad faith insurance law apply to all types of insurance in Florida?

    Florida Statute § 624.155 applies broadly to insurers operating in the state, covering homeowner, auto, life, disability, business interruption, and commercial property policies, among others. If your insurer has handled your claim in a way that appears deliberately obstructive or unreasonable, the coverage type generally does not limit your ability to bring a bad faith claim.

How We Evaluate Whether Your Claim Qualifies

You don't need to arrive at our office already knowing you have a bad faith case. That determination is our job. When you bring us your claim, we examine the evidence that insurers prefer to keep internal:

 

  • The timeline of your claim from submission through each response and decision
  • All adjuster communications, field reports, and internal claim file documentation
  • The insurer's offer history and how each offer compares to the documented value of your loss
  • Any written explanations provided for delays, denials, or reduced settlements
  • Whether the insurer's investigation was genuine or perfunctory

 

This review tells us whether the insurer's conduct was merely slow or genuinely unreasonable — and whether a Civil Remedy Notice is warranted. A free consultation gives you a clear answer without any obligation to proceed.