Policyholders have rights

Since you've landed here, there’s a good chance you’re having trouble with your insurance claim. Unfortunately, I meet a lot of people when they’re at their lowest, most discouraged points in their lives. The first thing I tell them is this: Policyholders in the State of Washington have important rights. Then I tell them: Don't buy my book, which I wrote for lawyers to use in their representation of clients like you. Instead, I ask that you please read this message, take a look at firm’s website, and give me a call if you want to talk about your situation.

You purchased insurance. You paid for it. You kept up your end of the bargain. The insurance company is supposed to be there for you when you need it most. When your house burns down, or when you’re in a car accident, or when you need medical treatment—whatever the case may be—it’s too late to go shopping for new insurance if your insurance company decides to play hardball with you. That’s why the law creates protections for policyholders.

I look at the insurance companies’ websites. They promise that they’ll treat you fairly. Some say they’ll treat you like family. When you report a claim, you’ll probably get a letter that says that the insurance company wants to help. A lot of that is just marketing-speak. When I see what insurance companies do in practice—not just what they say in their advertising—I get worried. I’ve seen too many claims gone bad and too many policyholders being treated unfairly to still believe it’s an accident. More and more, insurance companies are purposefully setting up the claims process to fail. They know, like I know, that a lot of policyholders will get so frustrated that they’ll just settle for less than they’re owed and go away.

Insurance companies have money and time on their side. You’ve been out of your burned-out house for a year? The insurance company can afford to wait. Delays in payment don’t hurt the insurance company’s bottom line, they help it.

Insurance companies also have all of the information on their side. Don’t believe me? Did you know that the Supreme Court of Washington and Washington regulations require the insurance company to conduct the entire investigation—every bit of it—at its own expense? Did you know that the insurance company has to follow strict timelines for its investigation, as short as 30 days? Did you know that the insurance company has to pay for qualified experts if they’re needed to figure out how much you’re owed? Did you know that the insurance company has to explain all of the benefits that are available to you under the policy in a way that you can actually understand? Did you know that—when your house has been damaged—most homeowners policies require that the insurance company to put you up in an alternative living arrangement that lets you keep your normal standard of living, not just some rent-by-the-week motel? Insurance companies don’t want you to know any of that, but now you know.

At the end of the day, you have to remember that insurance companies are unimaginably large corporations with unlimited money at their disposal. They’re not afraid to use that money to fight you. I’ve been involved in many cases in which the insurance company spent hundreds of thousands more in litigation than they owed under the policy. How does that make sense, especially when they also have to pay what they owe to the policyholder in the end? Let me tell you how it makes sense: Bullying works. Insurance companies make litigation so expensive that a lot of people are simply afraid to fight for their rights. That’s where my team comes into the picture. We fight insurance companies for a living. We simply won’t be bullied. We represent all types of policyholders, from individuals to small businesses, to large corporations, to the government. We take cases that can make a difference for our clients and advance the cause of all policyholders. We may be able to help you, too. I encourage you to reach out here or call my office at 206-203-9100

Best regards,

Isaac Ruiz