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Dealing with insurance claims and disputes is often a complex and stressful process. At Gump, Faiella & Bugalski, our experienced insurance law attorneys help you navigate denied claims, bad faith practices, and coverage disputes.
With a combined century of experience navigating Missouri’s insurance laws, our team is committed to providing strategic representation for individuals and businesses across central Missouri.
If you need trusted legal guidance, contact us today for a consultation with one of our experienced insurance law attorneys
Our attorneys handle a wide variety of insurance-related issues. From personal to business insurance, we offer comprehensive services designed to resolve your legal concerns effectively.
If you’ve been involved in a vehicle accident, navigating auto insurance claims can be challenging. Insurance companies may delay payments, dispute liability, or undervalue your damages.
Our attorneys assist with:
We work with clients to gather evidence, negotiate with insurers, and pursue the compensation you’re entitled to under your policy.
Someone suffering an injury on your property can be devastating. Your insurance should protect you and your interests. Our attorneys handle cases where you’re injured on the property of another and when someone is injured on your property.
We work with property owners and insurers to ensure the injured party receives appropriate and fair compensation and to protect the assets of landowners.
Life insurance disputes often involve issues with beneficiaries, policy terms, or claim denials.
Common issues include:
Our attorneys can help ensure that life insurance benefits are properly paid to the rightful beneficiaries in a timely manner.
When you purchase long-term disability insurance to protect your family’s financial future in case of illness or injury, you expect the insurance company to uphold its promise.
Our attorneys handle:
We protect your claims when insurers deny legitimate benefits or terminate payments, despite your diligent premium payments and rightful entitlement.
The Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) governs many employer-provided insurance benefits. If your rights have been violated or your claims denied under an accidental death, life insurance, or disability plan provided by your employer, our attorneys are here to help you secure the benefits you deserve. ERISA claims have unique procedural requirements and strict deadlines that must be followed.
Business property damage can disrupt operations and threaten your company’s financial stability.
We assist businesses with:
Our attorneys work to ensure your business receives the full coverage available under your commercial property policy.
When covered events force your business to close or reduce operations, business interruption insurance should cover lost income and ongoing expenses. We handle:
We help businesses navigate these complex claims to recover the compensation needed to maintain operations.
General liability insurance protects businesses from claims of bodily injury, property damage, and advertising injury.
We assist with:
Our attorneys ensure your liability insurer fulfills its obligations to defend and indemnify your business.
Workers’ compensation insurance disputes can affect both employers and employees.
We handle:
Our experience includes representation in workers’ compensation proceedings and related insurance coverage matters.
Professional liability or errors and omissions (E&O) insurance protects businesses from claims of professional negligence.
We assist with:
Insurance companies in Missouri are legally required to act in good faith when handling claims. Bad faith occurs when an insurer wrongfully denies a claim, fails to properly investigate, unreasonably delays payment, or otherwise violates its duty to deal fairly with policyholders.
Common examples of insurance bad faith include:
If you believe your insurer is acting in bad faith, our attorneys are ready to fight on your behalf. Missouri law provides remedies for policyholders who have been treated unfairly by their insurance companies.
Insurance disputes can escalate quickly, requiring effective legal intervention to protect your interests. At Gump, Faiella & Bugalski, our skilled litigators are experienced in handling various insurance-related lawsuits.
We represent clients in cases involving:
Whether through negotiation, mediation, or litigation, our team works relentlessly to secure the best possible outcome. We understand the pressure that comes with insurance issues, and we are here to offer expert legal solutions to minimize your stress.
Call our experienced insurance law attorneys today for a consultation. We’re here to protect your rights and help you move forward with confidence.
Our attorneys practice exclusively in Missouri and understand the state-specific laws and regulations that govern insurance claims.
This includes:
Our local knowledge and experience in Missouri courts, including federal courts in both the Eastern and Western Districts, gives our clients an advantage in insurance disputes.
Every insurance claim is handled by experienced Missouri-licensed trial attorneys whose combined experience exceeds 100 years.
Insurance Law Experience:
Local Connection: Madison native serving clients in Moberly, Columbia, and statewide; admitted in Missouri and both federal districts.
Insurance Law Experience:
Court Admissions: Licensed in Missouri, U.S. Supreme Court, Eighth & Tenth Circuits; brings statewide and national trial reach.
Insurance Law Experience:
Local Connection: Born and raised in Randolph County, graduate of Moberly High School and MU Law, admitted in Missouri.
Insurance Law Experience:
Local Connection: Served as Moberly City Attorney and Municipal Judge; admitted in Missouri and Western District federal court.
Insurance Law Experience:
Local Connection: North-central Missouri native (Clarence) practicing in state courts across the region.
We begin with a comprehensive review of your insurance policy, claim denial or dispute, and related documentation. This allows us to assess the strength of your case and explain your legal options.
Our team gathers evidence, reviews policy language, and may consult with experts to build a strong foundation for your claim. We handle communication with the insurance company on your behalf.
Many insurance disputes can be resolved through negotiation. We work to reach a fair settlement that provides the compensation you’re entitled to under your policy.
If negotiation doesn’t result in a fair resolution, we’re prepared to file a lawsuit and take your case to trial. Our attorneys have courtroom experience and are ready to advocate for your rights before a judge or jury.
It’s important to remember that an insurance policy is a legal contract, and both the insurer and the insured have legal obligations. If an insurance company is not acting in an insured person’s best interest, or is putting its own financial interest first, the company has committed bad faith and can be held liable for the damages they have caused.
If an insurer acts in bad faith, the insured may be able to recover the following damages: (1) the policy benefits; (2) additional damages caused by the financial loss because of the bad faith; (3) general damages; (4) attorney’s fees; and (5) penalties or punitive damages if the company acted with malice or conscious disregard for the rights of the claimant.
The insurance lawyers at Gump, Faiella & Bugalski, LLC are experienced insurance bad faith lawyers who know how to maximize cases for clients who have been wronged by their insurance company. If your insurance company isn’t watching out for you, you need immediate help and an experienced legal team on your side.
It’s important to remember that:
When an insurance company wrongfully denies payment, drags its feet, fails to investigate or evaluate a claim, or unreasonably fails to settle a claim within the policy limits, that insurance company is acting in bad faith. Bad faith behavior by insurance companies place unnecessary financial and emotional burdens on claimants, insured persons, and policyholders. Insurance companies profit by denying or delaying payment rather than by paying claims.
In Missouri, courts have held the following to have supported bad faith, including:
Our Moberly office serves clients throughout central Missouri, including:
Office Address: 110 North Fifth Street, Moberly, MO 65270
We also represent clients in insurance disputes throughout Missouri and in federal courts in the Eastern and Western Districts of Missouri.
Contact an experienced insurance law attorney right away. We can review your case, help you understand why your claim was denied, examine your policy language, and guide you through the appeals process or legal action if necessary. Time limits may apply, so prompt action is important.
Bad faith insurance occurs when an insurance company fails to fulfill its obligations to a policyholder. This can include denying valid claims without proper investigation, unreasonably delaying payment, misrepresenting policy terms, or offering inadequate settlements. Missouri law provides remedies for policyholders who have been treated in bad faith by their insurers.
Deadlines vary by claim. Many suits on written insurance policies fall under Missouri’s 10-year statute (§516.110). Some related claims, such as tort-based bad-faith failure to settle and certain penalty statutes, may have shorter periods. Always check your policy and the specific claim type.
Yes. If your insurance company has wrongfully denied your claim, breached the insurance contract, or acted in bad faith, you may have grounds to file a lawsuit. Missouri law allows policyholders to seek remedies, including payment of benefits, damages for bad faith conduct, and, in some cases, attorney’s fees.
An insurance attorney can review your policy, analyze the insurer’s reasons for denial or underpayment, gather supporting evidence, handle communications with the insurance company, negotiate on your behalf, and file a lawsuit if necessary. Insurance policies are complex legal contracts, and having an attorney who understands insurance law can make a significant difference in the outcome of your claim.
Yes. Life insurance attorneys can assist with beneficiary disputes, claims denied due to alleged misrepresentation or contestability issues, disputes over policy interpretation, and cases where the insurance company has delayed payment. We work to ensure that life insurance benefits are paid to the rightful beneficiaries.
Insurance companies often make lowball settlement offers, especially on property damage and personal injury claims. An attorney can evaluate whether the offer is fair based on your policy coverage, the extent of your damages, and applicable law. We can negotiate with the insurer to seek a settlement that reflects the true value of your claim, or pursue litigation if necessary.
Fee arrangements vary depending on the type of case. Many insurance claims, particularly those involving personal injury, may be handled on a contingency fee basis, meaning you don’t pay attorney’s fees unless we recover compensation for you. Other cases may involve hourly fees or alternative arrangements. We discuss fees during your initial consultation so you understand the cost structure before moving forward.
While not every insurance claim requires an attorney, legal representation is often beneficial when your claim has been denied, the insurance company is offering inadequate compensation, the policy language is complex or disputed, bad faith is involved, or the claim involves significant value. An attorney can level the playing field against insurance companies and their legal teams.
Contact an insurance attorney as soon as your claim is denied, you receive an unreasonably low settlement offer, the insurance company stops responding to your communications, you suspect bad faith practices, or you’re unsure about your policy coverage or rights. Early legal advice can help protect your claim and ensure you meet important deadlines.
ERISA (Employee Retirement Income Security Act) is a federal law that governs many employer-sponsored benefit plans, including disability insurance, life insurance, and health insurance. ERISA claims have unique procedural requirements, strict deadlines, and different remedies than other insurance claims. If your employer-provided benefits have been denied, it’s important to consult with an attorney who understands ERISA law.
Subrogation occurs when your insurance company pays your claim and then seeks reimbursement from a third party who was responsible for your loss. This can also work in reverse – if you receive a settlement from a third party, your insurer may seek reimbursement for benefits it paid. Subrogation disputes can be complex and may require legal representation to protect your interests.
