How long does an insurance adjuster have to contact you after?

Asked by: Burnice Ankunding DDS  |  Last update: August 18, 2025
Score: 5/5 (50 votes)

Standard Waiting Time Typically, after reporting a claim to your insurance provider, you can expect a claims adjuster to reach out within 24 to 48 hours. This initial contact will be to gather more details about the incident and potentially schedule a time for an in-person inspection of the damages.

How long does an insurance adjuster have to contact you?

Typically, under the terms of the insurance policy and/or by state law, the adjuster must complete an initial review and send a response within a reasonable amount of time – usually on the order of 30 days.

Do insurance companies have a time limit?

All states except South Carolina have rules requiring insurers to pay or deny claims within a certain time frame, usually 30, 45, or 60 days.

What do I do if my insurance adjuster won't call?

What You Should Do When the Claims Adjuster Doesn't Call You Back
  1. Keep a log of all your attempts to contact the adjuster. ...
  2. Call the insurance company's customer service line and ask to speak to a supervisor. ...
  3. Send a certified letter to the insurance company with a return receipt requested.

How do I follow up with my insurance adjuster?

This is not to say you should pester your adjuster for hourly follow-ups, but keeping in regular contact with your adjuster is the best way to make sure your loss isn't being overlooked. If your independent adjuster simply won't make contact with you, call your insurance company and let them know.

Contractors Should Never Settle Insurance Claims With Adjusters

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Why do insurance adjusters take so long?

It can take quite a while to investigate an accident, especially when it comes to determining liability for the accident. The insurance company has to collect information about the claim, review evidence, and carry out other tasks to ensure the claim is valid and make a plan for moving forward with it.

What not to say to insurance claim adjuster?

Eight things NOT to say to an insurance adjuster are:
  • admitting fault,
  • anything about your injuries,
  • anything on the record,
  • speculating about the crash,
  • that you do not have a lawyer,
  • providing unnecessary information,
  • accepting a settlement, and.
  • sharing medical records.

Why is my claims adjuster ignoring me?

Understand potential reasons you are being ignored

Insurance companies may ignore even valid claims for a range of self-serving reasons: They want to avoid paying out money whenever possible to maximize profits. They are chronically overwhelmed and disorganized with high claim volumes.

What happens if insurance doesn't respond in 30 days?

Insurers Do Not Need to Respond to Demand Letters

However, your attorney will be ready to take action against the company if they refuse to give your claim the attention it deserves. This might be by filing a civil lawsuit against the company if they continue to handle your claim in bad faith.

Why hasn't insurance adjuster called me?

One reason an auto insurance claim adjuster is not calling you back maybe because they are just overworked and dealing with other claims—in your case or in others. But they may not be returning your call as a tactic to save money or to avoid your claim entirely.

Can I sue my insurance company for taking too long?

The answer to this question is complex, but California health insurance providers are bound by state law to respond to claims within a specific amount of time. If they fail to do so, you may have the basis for a lawsuit against your insurer due to bad faith.

What is the time limit for claim settlement?

After completing an investigation, an insurance company is required to settle a claim within a set period of time. This period varies by state and type of claim, but typically ranges from 30-60 days.

What is a bad faith claim?

Looking for evidence that supports the insurance company's basis for denying a claim and ignoring evidence that supports the policyholder's basis for making a claim is considered bad faith. If an insurer fails to promptly reply to a policyholder's claim, that act of negligence, willful or not, is considered bad faith.

How long does an insurance company have to respond to you?

In California, private insurance companies are required to acknowledge the claim within 15 days. Once a claim has been acknowledged, it must be accepted or denied within 40 days. If a claim has been accepted, the insurer must make a payment within 30 days after a settlement has been reached.

How do you deal with a difficult insurance adjuster?

Five Things to Do When the Insurance Adjuster is Being Difficult
  1. Hit the “reset” button. We all have bad days. ...
  2. Become informed. Throughout our website, we provide educational material to help you understand the claims process. ...
  3. Contact a supervisor. ...
  4. Ask to change adjusters. ...
  5. Contact the Insurance Commissioner.

How long does it take for an adjuster to write a check?

Payments Must Be Made Within 30 Days of Settlement

On average, insurers send a check quicker, in about two weeks. Despite this, there are situations, such as when liens are involved, where it may be longer before you actually see the money.

Can you sue an insurance company for not responding?

Seeking Legal Advice

A lawyer specializing in insurance law can guide you through your options and help you decide on your next steps. Yes, it is possible to sue an insurance company if they are taking too long to settle a claim, as this could be considered bad faith.

How long does it take for an insurance adjuster to make a decision?

Typically, insurance companies have 15 days to acknowledge receipt of the claim you submit. That does not mean they have to decide within that time frame. They then have 15 days to investigate the claim. They have 40 days to settle the claim from start to finish.

How long after a demand letter can I expect settlement?

In some cases, you may receive a response within a few weeks, while in others, it may take several months.

What not to tell a claims adjuster?

Some key phrases to avoid saying to an insurance adjuster include: “I'm sorry.” “It was all/partly my fault.” “I did not see the other person/driver.”

Why is my claims adjuster taking so long?

However, delays can occur due to various reasons such as lack of evidence, legal disputes, or the insurance company trying to minimize their payout. If you believe your personal injury claim is being wrongfully delayed, it is important to take action.

How do I get my insurance adjuster to respond?

  1. 5 Tips for Getting Speedy Responses from Claims Adjusters. by Jodi Mathy.
  2. Know that your claims adjuster is trying. ...
  3. Give them at least 24 hours to respond. ...
  4. Leave good voicemails. ...
  5. Email is generally better than calling. ...
  6. If your claims adjuster is truly MIA, escalate it.

How do I convince my insurance adjuster?

Know What You Want: When you talk to the insurance claims adjuster, be clear about what you're asking for. Don't leave it up to them to decide how much money you should receive. Instead, give them a specific number that you feel is fair. Also, be sure to have documents to substantiate your claim for that price.

Do insurance adjusters get bonuses for denying claims?

Insurers are driven to increase their profits. In that vein, some of them give bonuses to adjusters who successfully and consistently deny claims. Adjusters who pay too many claims may find themselves without a job.

What should you not say to a loss adjuster?

Understand that everything you say whether in person or over the phone, can be used against you in their final assessment. Avoid providing incomplete or potentially detrimental information that could be used to lower the settlement offer, like failing to mention pre-existing damage.