Serving all of Florida
Florida Insurance Bad Faith Lawyer
I spent nearly two decades defending insurance companies in crash cases. Now I use everything I learned to fight for you.
— Emanuel Galimidi, former insurance-defense attorney
Main Office Miami · In person or by video, anywhere in Florida
My insurance company is lowballing or denying a valid claim. Is that bad faith, and what can I do?
It can be. And few people know that playbook better than someone who used to run it.
Florida law requires insurance companies to act in good faith. That means they must settle a claim promptly and fairly when it is clear who is at fault. When they don't, § 624.155 lets you bring a bad-faith claim under the law. But there is a key step. You must first file a Civil Remedy Notice with the Department of Financial Services, and then give the insurance company 60 days to fix the problem.
There is a second kind, called third-party bad faith (a "common-law" claim). It happens when an insurance company refuses to settle for the most the policy pays, and its own customer then gets hit with a verdict above that amount. In that case, the insurance company can be made to pay the full verdict, even when that is more than the most the policy pays. These cases turn on paperwork and timing. So it's worth having me review the claim before the deadlines and notice rules run out.
The facts that matter
- Governing statute
- Florida's bad-faith law is § 624.155
- Required step
- File a Civil Remedy Notice + 60-day cure period
- Exposure
- An insurance company can owe more than the most the policy pays
- What it costs
- Free case review · no fees or costs unless we recover for you
What they do
How insurance companies try to cut what they pay
Delay and paper you
They drag out the claim with endless requests, betting you'll give up or settle low.
Deny, then 'reconsider'
A quick denial that conveniently softens once the notice clock is running.
Blame their own insured
They point fingers to avoid paying a clear claim within the limits they sold.
Next steps
What to do next
Keep everything
Save every letter, email, and claim number — the paper trail is the case.
Document the timeline
Note each delay, denial, and offer with dates; timing is central to bad faith.
Keep the Civil Remedy Notice
The notice required by law must be filed correctly. Mistakes can sink an otherwise strong claim.
Get the policy reviewed before you settle
Let me review the policy and how the insurance company handled your claim before you accept anything.
Florida law
The rules that decide your claim
Statutory bad faith (§ 624.155)
Lets you bring a claim when an insurance company acts in bad faith. But you must first file a Civil Remedy Notice and give them 60 days to fix the problem.
Third-party bad faith
This is the claim that comes up when the other driver’s insurance company had a fair chance to settle for the most the policy pays, and refused. The claim technically belongs to their customer, the other driver. But it can be signed over to the injured person. That is how an injured person ends up collecting a verdict well above what the policy pays.
The duty to settle
Insurance companies must handle a claim with the same care for their customer's interests as for their own.
Timing matters
The Civil Remedy Notice has to name the law that was broken and spell out the facts in detail. A vague notice can be thrown out, and by then the 60 days may have already run. Get it written right the first time.
Track record
Results from a lawyer who knows the other side
The firm has recovered real money for injured Floridians, including confidential settlements and settlements for the most the policy pays.
Each case is different and past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.See more results →
Client reviews
What clients say
“Mr. Galimidi is an excellent attorney. He was thoughtful and determined throughout, and explained everything so I fully understood what was going on. He went above and beyond for me and my case.”
— Tawnya Martin · Avvo“Simply the best of the best. So honest, and always reachable — he gives you all the advice and all the angles, then uses his knowledge for your best outcome.”
— Eden Alush · Google“From the very beginning, he was incredibly easy to communicate with and always kept me informed and updated on my case. Thanks to his dedication and expertise, I received a settlement that I am extremely happy with.”
— Peter Rotta · Avvo“The attention to detail Emanuel has is second to none. Knowledge is power, and he has an abundance of knowledge.”
— Omar · AvvoIndividual results; outcomes vary by case. Reviews are from the firm’s Google and Avvo profiles.
Questions people ask
Bad-Faith Insurance FAQ
What counts as bad faith?
Unreasonable delay, an unjustified denial, or failing to settle a clear claim promptly and fairly can all be bad faith.
Do I have to file a Civil Remedy Notice?
For a bad-faith claim under the law, yes. And the insurance company gets 60 days to fix the problem before you can go forward.
Can the insurance company owe more than the most the policy pays?
Yes. When bad faith leaves their own customer facing a verdict above what the policy pays, the insurance company can be responsible for the full verdict.
Is this for my own insurance company or someone else's?
Both exist. A first-party claim is against your own insurance company. A third-party claim involves someone else's insurance company.
How long do I have?
Deadlines and notice rules apply, and they can be unforgiving. It's best to let me review the claim right away.
Tell me what happened. The case review is free.
You'll talk to me, a senior attorney who spent nearly two decades working for the insurance companies. Not a case manager. No fees or costs unless we recover for you.
Call 786-442-2873