What do you do if your insurance won't respond?
Asked by: Anthony Spencer | Last update: November 13, 2025Score: 4.9/5 (4 votes)
- Document All Contact Regarding Your Insurance Claim. ...
- Contact Your Insurance Representative's Supervisor. ...
- Report the Insurance Company to Your State Department of Insurance. ...
- File a Lawsuit to Get the Insurance Company to Respond.
What to do if your insurance company ignores you?
You should try to contact the supervisor of the adjuster (if there is one). If not, you can report the company to your state's insurance commission. You may also want to consult with a personal injury lawyer (if you were injured).
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 an insurer have to respond?
For Road Traffic Accident (RTA) claims, insurers have 15 business days from the claim notification to respond. For Employers' Liability (EL) claims, the process allows insurers 30 days to acknowledge the claim. For Public Liability (PL) claims, insurers are given 40 days to acknowledge the claim.
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.
What If The Insurance Company Does Not Respond By The Demand Deadline?
What to do when insurance won't answer?
Contact Your Insurance Representative's Supervisor
If you have been relegated to calling your insurance company's 800 number and leaving message after message for your point of contact, only to never hear back, try someone else. Contacting a supervisor may move your claim forward quicker and without too much trouble.
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.
Why does insurance take so long to respond?
Reviewing Insurance Policies
If multiple parties are involved in the accident, the insurance company may need to review and interpret several different policies to figure out how much to pay out. Insurance policies are generally long and complex, so it can take time to go through each one.
When an insurance company won't settle?
Be Prepared for Legal Action: If negotiations fail to yield a fair settlement, pursuing legal action against the insurance company may become necessary. Your attorney can guide you through the legal process, working on your behalf to protect your rights.
How long do insurance companies have to request refunds?
Commercial Plans/Insurers
California law allows health plans, their delegated groups and health insurers 365 days from the date of payment to request a refund, except in cases of fraud or misrepresentation.
How likely is an insurance company to sue you?
While subrogation allows insurance providers to pursue third parties, an insurer usually cannot sue their policyholders. However, there are certain situations where an insurer may take legal action against its policyholder.
What to do if an insurance company is stalling?
- Ask the adjuster for a complete list of documents and information needed to fully evaluate your claims.
- Keep physical copies of all evidence that can support your claim.
- Follow up with the insurance company regularly.
What if neither party admits fault?
If neither party admits fault in causing the accident, insurance adjusters from all parties involved in the crash will usually determine fault. They may hire experts to examine who caused the accident.
How do I fight back against insurance companies?
- Internal appeal: If your claim is denied or your health insurance coverage canceled, you have the right to an internal appeal. ...
- External review: You have the right to take your appeal to an independent third party for review.
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 happens if someone doesn't respond to insurance?
Insurance policies also have a “duty to cooperate” or “non-cooperation” clause. This clause basically states that the insured party is obligated to cooperate with the adjuster's investigation of the claim. If the insured person refuses or fails to cooperate, the company can then deny coverage.
How do I get my insurance to settle?
- Assess The Damages You've Suffered. ...
- Gather Your Documents and Evidence. ...
- Act in a Timely Manner. ...
- Consider The Parties Involved. ...
- Compose a Demand Letter. ...
- Consult With the Insurance Adjustor. ...
- Review the Settlement, If One Arrives, and Make a Decision.
How do I deal with an insurance company that won't pay?
- Don't assume that the first “no” you receive is final. ...
- Insist on a written explanation. ...
- Do not accept filing errors as ground for refusal. ...
- Do your own research to support your claim. ...
- Ask your insurance agent or group policy administrator at work for support.
Can I sue my insurance company for emotional distress?
Yes, you can sue for emotional distress under the common law standard, but it can be hard to prove. This is because you must show that the result of your claim denial caused you pain and suffering or emotional distress. This intangible loss can be more difficult to prove than, say, the cost of medical bills.
Why is my insurance company not answering?
Insurance companies often try to avoid liability for a claimant's losses entirely through delays or wrongful claim denials. Sometimes, an insurance company will ignore your claim and not return your phone calls to save money. If an insurance company is ignoring you, be proactive about pursuing coverage.
How can I speed up my insurance process?
- Know About Your Policy. When you've got an understanding of your property insurance policy, you have the confidence to protect your rights. ...
- Learn About Your Legal Rights. ...
- Document Everything. ...
- Submit Proof of Your Losses. ...
- Get the Right Kind of Help.
Why do insurance companies ignore you?
Here's why: Insurance companies make money by not paying claims. If they can ignore you and pay you less, it means more profits in their pockets, helping their bottom line. The longer insurers don't pay your claim, the more interest they can make from the money you may be entitled to.
What to do if my insurance company is stalling?
- The Cliff Notes: Key Takeaways From This Post.
- Step 1: Document Everything.
- Step 2: Report The Incident.
- Step 3: Review Your Insurance Policy.
- Step 4: File Your Claim.
- Step 5: Seek Legal Help.
- Mistake 1: Accepting The First Offer.
- Mistake 2: Not Keeping A Record.
When should you sue an insurance company?
You may be able to sue your insurance company for bad faith if they intentionally neglect to perform the duties necessary according to your policy. If the insurance company knows that the claim is valid but they deny it anyway, you may be able to sue for bad faith.
How to sue a car insurance company without a lawyer?
- File a Police Report. · ...
- Collect Evidence and Witness Statements. · ...
- File the Paperwork. · ...
- Representing Yourself During Legal Proceedings. · ...
- Dealing With the Appeals. ·