Agriculture is an unpredictable career. Farms need to generate enough revenue to pay workers, maintain the property and cover expenses for leased farm equipment. Even the most experienced farmers are at risk of pests, droughts and excessive rainfall damaging their crops.
Farmers who acquire agricultural insurance for crop protection can limit their risk in cases where they do not meet minimum production requirements to cover their annual operating costs. Their policies can also protect them from a total loss caused by pests, weather or other uncontrollable factors.
If an insurance company refuses to honor a valid claim, farmers may need help pursuing coverage and holding a resistant insurance company accountable.
Is a loss within the scope of one’s policy?
Crop insurance can be incredibly complex. There may be requirements imposed on farmers to meet certain professional standards regarding the maintenance of the property, the pesticides that they apply and even the types of crops they plant. There may be limited time frames for reporting crop failures and documenting unusual events.
Even in cases where farmers ensure that their policy fully applies to the crop and the scenario that resulted in the loss, the insurance company may still try to deny seemingly valid claims. That can be a very frustrating situation for people who have paid for insurance and are at risk of significant financial setbacks due to a denied claim.
Reviewing policy paperwork and documentation of the circumstances surrounding a crop failure with a skilled legal team can help frustrated farmers pursue the coverage they have already paid for and need to cover operational expenses. A bad faith insurance attorney can manage negotiations with an insurance company and (if necessary) take the necessary steps to file a lawsuit in response to a bad faith claim denial.