Primary Location
Seal Beach Personal Injury Lawyers
207 Main St, Seal Beach, CA 90740
Phone: (213) 214-1592
Call us at (855) 855-8910
Call us at (855) 855-8910
You pay your premiums on time, every month. Then you file a claim, and the insurance company tells you no. Or they offer you a fraction of what your claim is worth. That's where an insurance attorney steps in.
An insurance attorney handles disputes between policyholders and insurance companies. This is different from a general personal injury attorney in Seal Beach, who focuses on proving another party caused your injuries. An insurance attorney fights the insurer itself when it refuses to honor the contract you already paid for.
California has some of the strongest policyholder protections in the country. Insurance Code Section 790.03 lists specific unfair claims settlement practices that insurers are prohibited from engaging in [1]. These include:
Insurance disputes in the Seal Beach area cover auto claims, homeowner policies, health coverage, disability benefits, and commercial insurance. Living in a coastal community means homeowner insurance denials are common, particularly around water damage and weather-related claims. The I-405 corridor generates a high volume of auto collisions, which leads to frequent property damage insurance disputes and coverage fights.
At The Simon Law Group, we handle insurance disputes from our Seal Beach office at 207 Main St. We've recovered over $600 million for our clients across all practice areas, and a significant portion of that required fighting insurance companies that tried to pay less than they owed.
Insurance litigation is the process of taking legal action against an insurance company that won't pay your claim fairly. Here's what we tell clients: the claims process is set up to benefit the insurer, not you. When their adjusters deny your claim or send you a lowball offer, litigation is how you level the playing field.
This covers a range of situations. Denied claims where the insurer says your policy doesn't cover the loss. Underpayment disputes where they acknowledge the claim but cut the amount. Coverage analysis when the language in your policy is ambiguous. And demand letters followed by lawsuits when the insurer refuses to negotiate in good faith.
California law requires insurers to act fairly under the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing. When an insurer forces you into litigation over a valid claim, you may be able to recover Brandt fees, which are your attorney fees for having to hire a lawyer to get what you were already owed. That's on top of the claim amount itself.
One thing people don't realize is how often insurers change their behavior once you have a lawyer involved. A formal demand letter from an attorney signals that you're serious. In our experience, some claims that were denied for months start getting real attention within weeks of that first letter.
See how our insurance litigation attorneys handle denied claims →Bad faith is more than just a denied claim. It's when your insurance company acts unreasonably or dishonestly in handling your case. Unreasonable denial of a valid claim. Deliberate delay tactics designed to wear you down. Failure to properly investigate before making a decision. Lowball settlement offers that ignore the evidence.
California recognizes two types of bad faith. First-party bad faith is when your own insurer mistreats you on your own policy. Third-party bad faith is when someone else's insurer acts unfairly toward you during a liability claim.
Here's what makes bad faith cases different from regular insurance disputes: the damages. Under California Civil Code Section 3294, a jury can award punitive damages in bad faith cases. California has no cap on punitive damages for insurance bad faith [2]. That means if an insurer acted with malice or fraud, the financial consequences for them can be severe.
We've seen cases where the original claim was worth a moderate amount, but the insurer's conduct turned it into a much larger case. Punitive damages are meant to punish and deter. When an insurer knowingly refuses a valid claim, hoping you'll give up, that's exactly the kind of behavior California courts take seriously.
Learn about bad faith insurance claims with our Seal Beach team →Every personal injury case involves dealing with insurance companies. Here are results where we fought for our clients against insurers that tried to minimize or deny what they owed.
$1,132,336 jury verdict - A light-impact rear-end collision where the insurer argued the injuries were minor. Our legal team took the case to trial in Riverside and the jury disagreed with the insurance company's position.
$1,000,000 settlement - A utility truck rear-ended our client, but neck pain didn't appear right away. The insurer tried to use the delayed symptoms as a reason to pay less. We fought back and settled on the eve of trial.
$500,000 settlement - A pedestrian was hit by an uninsured motorist and suffered a leg fracture. We obtained full policy limits for our client through their own uninsured motorist coverage, holding the insurance company to its obligations.
$256,236 jury verdict - The insurance company's position was that a 2-3 MPH rear-end collision couldn't cause real injuries. They disputed the brake light claims and offered far less than our client deserved. The jury saw through it.
$49,909 verdict - A soft tissue injury case where the insurer's last offer was just $12,500. Our client trusted us to take it to trial, and the jury returned a verdict that was nearly four times the insurance company's offer.
Every case is different. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Insurance companies have teams of adjusters and lawyers working to protect their bottom line. You deserve someone on your side with the same level of resources and experience. The Simon Law Group has over 250 years of combined legal experience and a track record of taking on insurers that refuse to pay.
We're one of only two firms with a physical office in Seal Beach, right at 207 Main St. That means face-to-face meetings, not phone tag with an out-of-town lawyer. Call us at (855) 374-1714 for a free case review. We don't charge unless we recover money for you.
If your insurer is giving you the runaround, our trial attorneys in Seal Beach are prepared to take your case to court when negotiation isn't enough. Schedule a free insurance claim evaluation to get started.
Our attorneys have handled personal injury cases across California and Arizona. We know how Seal Beach insurance companies operate, and we know how to push back.
That number reflects real results for real families — medical bills paid, lost wages recovered, and futures protected.
You pay nothing upfront. Our fee comes out of your settlement or verdict. If we do not win your case, you owe us nothing.
Accidents do not follow business hours. Neither do we. Call (602) 905-7766 any time — nights, weekends, and holidays.
Our Seal Beach team works out of 207 Main St. We know the roads, the courts, and the insurance adjusters you are up against.
“After a crash, you need a team that answers the phone, explains your options, and fights for every dollar you are owed. That is what we do at The Simon Law Group.”
Over 250 years of combined attorney experience
Seal Beach office at 207 Main St | Licensed in California and Arizona
Bad faith happens when your insurance company unreasonably denies, delays, or underpays a valid claim. California law requires insurers to act in good faith and deal fairly with policyholders. When they don't, such as ignoring evidence, failing to investigate, or offering far less than a claim is worth, that can qualify as bad faith. Policyholders who prove bad faith may recover their claim amount plus additional damages, including punitive damages with no cap under California law.
Yes. If your insurer denies a valid claim, underpays you, or uses delay tactics, you have the right to file a lawsuit against them. This is called a first-party bad faith claim. California Insurance Code Section 790.03 specifically prohibits unfair claims settlement practices. You can also file a complaint with the California Department of Insurance while your lawsuit is pending.
It depends on the complexity of the dispute and the insurer's willingness to negotiate. Some cases settle within a few months after a demand letter is sent. Others, especially those involving bad faith claims or punitive damages, can take a year or more if they go to trial. In our experience, having an attorney involved often speeds up the process because insurers take represented claimants more seriously.
You can recover the original claim amount the insurer should have paid, plus additional damages caused by the delay or denial. This includes emotional distress, lost income from not having the funds when you needed them, and attorney fees (called Brandt fees in California). If the insurer acted with malice or fraud, a jury can also award punitive damages, which have no cap in California.
Most insurance attorneys, including The Simon Law Group, work on a contingency fee basis. That means you pay nothing upfront and no fees unless we recover money for you. The fee is a percentage of the recovery. This arrangement makes it possible for anyone to hire a qualified attorney, regardless of their financial situation. Your initial consultation is free.
Our Location
Primary Location
207 Main St, Seal Beach, CA 90740
Phone: (213) 214-1592