Dealing with the insurance company is one of the most stressful and challenging aspects of a personal injury case. Know that the insurance adjuster doesn't have your best interest in mind. They are trying to pay you as little as possible because it's their job to do so. After an accident, you need a fair and appropriate settlement, and you need it as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, a common tactic insurance companies use to pay you as little as possible is to delay your offer. The hope is that you'll get desperate enough to accept any amount to cover your piling-up expenses. Sadly, this tactic works a lot, leaving many people with expenses they'll never be able to repay. Don't let this happen to you – get an attorney on your side as soon as possible after your accident, so you have someone who will fight for you and protect your best interest. In this article, we'll discuss what to do if the insurance company is stalling after an accident.
If you are currently in this situation, call or text our insurance lawyers today at 602-345-1818. We'll review your case and light a fire under the insurance adjuster, so you can ensure you have the settlement you need to get your finances and life back together.
How to Know That the Insurance Company Is Stalling the Claim
Unfortunately, the personal injury case process does take some time, depending on the facts of your case. So how do you know if your insurance company is taking too long on your claim? There are a few things to look for when determining if the insurance is stalling:
- They keep requesting documentation one paper at a time. They should request all necessary documentation at one time. Repeated requests are a common delay tactic.
- They instantly deny a perfectly valid claim. This isn't right, and you can take legal action.
- They are repeatedly requesting unnecessary information and documentation, including intrusive and irrelevant medical records.
- They keep telling you that they don't yet have a decision.
- They keep requesting multiple statements from various people, including medical providers and property repair professionals.
- They are bringing up random laws and telling you what's legal and illegal
- They point to complex policy language as an attempt to confuse you.
- They switch insurance adjusters in the middle of your claim investigation.
- They delay the claim investigation entirely. If you hear no news for too long, it may be a sign that the insurance company is stalling.
What to Do Next
If any of those stall tactics sound familiar, you should call an insurance lawyer as soon as possible. In addition to getting a lawyer on your side, there are a few other steps you can take throughout the process if you believe the insurance company is stalling on your claim:
- Ask the provider upfront if they need any other documents to proceed with your claim investigation.
- Keep a file of what's happening. Maintain any documentation and information already provided to the insurance company, so you don't lose any important evidence.
- Get an attorney to help you put a value on your case, so you know if the insurance company is trying to give you a low settlement.
- Stay in contact with the insurance adjuster. Ask if they need any other documentation, what's taking so long, what the timeline for payment is, etc. If they begin to dodge your calls and other forms of communication, this is a sign they may be trying to delay your claim.
If you have been waiting too long, it's time to get a lawyer. Bad faith insurance is illegal, and if the insurance company is purposely delaying your claim in order to pay you less or deny your valid claim altogether, that's bad faith insurance.
Why Is the Insurance Company Taking So Long?
A common reason for insurance company delays is that they hope you'll get desperate and accept a too-low settlement offer. More reasons for delayed insurance claim decisions are:
- They are legitimately waiting on additional documentation to confirm your claim. Be sure to stay in contact with them to ensure you aren't delaying your claim.
- They are still conducting the investigation to ensure your claim is valid.
- They are stalling in an effort to take so much time that some evidence gets lost or destroyed.
Some reasons may be perfectly legitimate and within an insurance company's rights. However, some reasons for delay are not legal and fall into insurance bad faith, including hoping for your desperation and lost/destroyed evidence. If bad faith practices are happening, you should call a lawyer as soon as possible to ensure your rights are protected and you get the compensation you need and deserve.
When to Call an Insurance Lawyer
Don't be a victim of shady insurance practices. You need a fair and appropriate settlement so that you can get your life back on track. Consulting an injury lawyer from the start is a good way to ensure you get the settlement you deserve as quickly as possible. We provide free initial case reviews for our clients. You can set this up by calling or texting us at 602-345-1818 or by filling out our personal injury online form.
We help clients with the following types of cases:
- General Personal Injury
- Car Accidents
- Semi-Truck Accidents
- Boating Accidents
- Dog Bites
- Insurance Law
- ATV Accidents
- Motorcycle Accidents
- Dirt Bike Accidents
- Bus Accidents
- More
We help clients in Arizona and New Mexico. Please fill out our online form or give us a call for questions regarding your personal injury case.