Oregon Claims Handling & Insurance Bad Faith

Oregon distinguishes statutory claims standards from common-law insurer liability

ORS 746.230 supplies Oregon’s unfair claim-settlement standards. Oregon decisions have generally treated violations of that statute as regulatory rather than automatically creating a freestanding tort claim solely from the statutory violation.

Common-law duties still matter

Oregon recognizes common-law duties arising from the insurer-insured relationship and from control of defense and settlement. Preserve the investigation record, communications, coverage positions, offers, denials, and the evidence available when each decision was made.