What happens if an insurance company doesn t respond to a claim?
Asked by: Bonita Ryan | Last update: October 24, 2025Score: 4.6/5 (58 votes)
What to do if an insurance company is ignoring 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).
What happens if someone doesn't respond to insurance claim?
If they don't respond, you either file through your insurance or sue the at fault party in court. There really isn't another option. The other party's insurance isn't obligated to pay the claim unless their insured responds to their requests.
What to do when insurance isn't responding?
Report the Insurance Company to Your State Department of Insurance. If you are having a challenging time getting results from your insurance provider, you can file a complaint with the state department of insurance in Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, California, or Puerto Rico.
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.
What If The Insurance Company Does Not Respond By The Demand Deadline?
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.
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.
What to do if claim adjuster won't answer calls?
Simply call frequently in an effort to put your name at the head of the list for the adjuster to return your call. Many insurance adjusters have more cases than they can really handle and the squeaky wheel approach is usually effective.
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.
Can I sue insurance for denying claim?
There are laws designed to protect consumers in the state of California and across the nation. It's not uncommon for policyholders to sue their healthcare insurers for denial of a claim, mainly when the claim is for a service that is crucial to their health and future or the health and future of a loved one.
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.
What if the adjuster refuses to cooperate?
If the adjuster refuses, write a letter to the adjuster confirming the refusal so that it becomes a part of your claim file. Then, if the adjuster still refuses to negotiate with you about settlement, you'll have to use other pressures to get negotiations moving.
What happens if you don't respond to a claim?
When a claim is left unaddressed, it may lead to the insurance company assuming that you're at fault. This could result in you paying higher amounts than if you had addressed the claim promptly. Not responding to a claim can be seen as a breach of your insurance contract. This can lead to legal actions against you.
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.
What happens if you ignore your insurance company after an accident?
As a last resort, the insurance company may file a suit against you and get a ruling. You should consider that this procedure can affect your credit rating and your ability to get insured in the future.
What not to say to insurance claim adjuster?
- 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 the insurance adjuster not responding?
Sometimes, they might just need to reassess your case. If new information pops up, adjusters might step back to reevaluate how your claim fits with the guidelines or policies. It's frustrating, but it could be a good sign that they're taking your case seriously!
How to escalate an insurance claim?
Contact your state insurance department.
Explain the reasons for the disagreement to a consumer services representative at the department. While they can't resolve or otherwise handle every complaint, the department will collect the information and alert you if your case is chosen to be individually reviewed.
What happens if a claim is taking too long?
What happens if a settlement claim takes longer than anticipated? Some states require the insurer to provide a written explanation in response to why the claim is taking longer than 30 days. Occasionally, claims are delayed, but most state laws require insurance companies to inform you of the claim's status.
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.
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.
How to beat the insurance adjuster?
- Write a convincing demand letter to your insurance company.
- Carefully review any settlement offers you receive.
- Reject a settlement offer in writing on your behalf.
- Counter your lowball settlement offer.
Why is my insurance ghosting me?
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.