How do I know if my insurance company is acting in bad faith?

Quick answer: Warning signs include unreasonable delays without explanation, a denial with no written reason, an offer far below documented repair costs, failure to respond to your calls or letters, or pressure to accept a quick settlement before you fully understand your damages.

Not every frustrating claim experience is bad faith. Insurers sometimes make mistakes, understaff claims departments, or take positions you disagree with for reasons that are at least arguable under your policy. But certain patterns are recognized under Georgia law and by the Georgia Department of Insurance as signs that something is genuinely wrong.

Watch for these specific warning signs. First, the insurer fails to acknowledge your claim or respond to your communications within a reasonable time. Georgia regulations (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 120-2-52-.03) require a 15-day acknowledgment and a coverage decision within 60 days. Extended silence or repeated unanswered calls past those deadlines is a compliance red flag. Second, you receive a denial letter with no written explanation of why your loss is not covered, or the explanation does not reference any specific policy language. Third, the insurer offers a settlement that is substantially lower than multiple independent estimates with no explanation for the difference. Fourth, you are pressured to sign a release quickly, especially before your full damages are known. Fifth, the insurer misrepresents your policy coverage, citing language that does not exist or taking a position that contradicts the plain reading of what you bought.

To build a record, keep a dated log of every interaction: phone calls, emails, letters, and voicemails. Request everything in writing and keep copies. Save all repair estimates, medical records, photos, and other documentation of your loss.

If several of these warning signs are present, two steps are appropriate. File a complaint with the Georgia DOI Consumer Services Division at oci.georgia.gov to create a regulatory record. Separately, consult with an attorney who handles insurance disputes in Georgia to evaluate whether O.C.G.A. Section 33-4-6 applies to your situation.

Olive Cover (operated by Olive Insurance Services, LLC) works for you, not for the carrier. If you believe your claim is being mishandled, we can review the situation, help you document your case, and connect you with appropriate legal resources in Georgia.