What to do if an insurance claim is taking too long?
Asked by: Scarlett Heidenreich DVM | Last update: August 30, 2025Score: 4.1/5 (63 votes)
- Call your insurance company. First and foremost you should give the insurance company every opportunity to fulfill your claim. ...
- Review your policy with a different agent. ...
- Request a formal denial letter. ...
- Call an experienced lawyer to sue the insurance company.
Why is my insurance claim taking so long to process?
Your insurance company will investigate who's responsible for the accident, as well as whether there's coverage for the injuries, damage, or other loss you filed the claim for. A coverage investigation can take just as long or even longer than an investigation to determine liability.
What can I do if my claim is taking too long?
Ask them straight up what is taking so long. If the answer isn't forthcoming ask them what you can do to facilitate the claim. Then provide them with anything reasonable for which they ask. Promptly. Ask the adjuster what they are doing to see the claim is taken care of.
What if an insurance company is taking too long?
File a Complaint with the State Department of Insurance
This state regulatory agency oversees the insurance industry and can investigate complaints against insurers. They have the authority to take action against insurance companies that engage in bad faith practices or violate state laws.
How long can an insurance company take to make a decision on a claim?
Most insurance companies are typically given between 15 to 90 days to investigate a claim and accept or deny it, depending on the specific state regulations, the type of the claim, and the case's complexity. For instance: Straightforward property damage claims may be resolved more quickly.
What should I do if the insurance adjuster won't call me back?
Can I sue insurance company for delaying claim?
Under California Insurance Code Section 790.03, when insurers fail to act “reasonably promptly” in response to member communications regarding processing or settling claims, they could be guilty of bad faith. Having a highly skilled bad faith lawyer by your side can make a huge difference.
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.
Can I sue an insurance company for wasting my time?
The law requires insurance companies to acknowledge receipt of a claim within 15 days after they receive it. They must communicate their decision on the claim within 15 business days after receiving all necessary information related to the claim. If they fail to do so, policyholders have the right to sue for delay.
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.
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.
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.
Why is my claim taking forever?
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.
How long should a claim take to settle?
Time limits may be extended in certain circumstances. Claims handled through the portal usually take around 4-9 months to settle – based on clients' accepting the first settlement offer. Clinical Negligence: Clinical negligence cases can take anything from 18 months to even 2-3 years to settle.
Why do insurance companies drag out claims?
Insurance companies may purposely drag out the claims process, hoping that policyholders will grow frustrated and accept a lower settlement or even drop the claim entirely. This may include excessive paperwork requests, slow response times, or frequent requests for additional documentation.
Why do claims adjusters take 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 expedite an insurance claim?
- Contact Your Insurer As Soon As Possible. ...
- Respond Promptly and Cooperate. ...
- Provide As Much Detail As Possible.
How can I speed up my claim process?
Gather Evidence
The primary way to speed up your personal injury claim is to gather as much evidence as possible for your claim to be as supported as possible and to prevent the insurance company from reaching back out to help supplement missing information.
How do I force my insurance company to pay?
Keep in mind that insurance companies are never forced to pay any injury claim until you have a Court Order called a “Final Judgment” telling them they must pay you. Until you have that in your hand, they only pay if and when they want to. Filing suit is how you take control of your case.
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 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 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 does an insurance company have to pay a claim?
Insurers in California have 40 days to either accept or deny a claim. However, insurers can request additional time, but must notify the policyholder every 30 days about the status of their claim. Once insurers accept a claim and agree to a payout, payment must be issued no more than 30 days later.
What insurance companies have been around the longest?
1752 The Philadelphia Contributionship for the Insurance of Houses from Loss by Fire, the oldest insurance carrier in continuous operation in the United States, was established. 1759 Presbyterian Ministers Fund, the first life insurance company in the United States, was founded.
Why do insurance companies delay settlements?
To Increase Their Profits
The lower your settlement amount is, the higher the insurance company's profits will be. By dragging their feet, some insurance providers may hope that the delay just makes you more desperate for any settlement amount they offer.