When you’ve been in an accident, you want to get back to normal life as soon as possible. The one thing that can hold you up is an insurance company that doesn’t cooperate with a timely pay-out. Are they allowed to keep you waiting?
In most states, insurance companies can wait as long as 45 days to handle your claim. If you’re frustrated by your insurance company not responding to claim correspondence, keep in mind that these five things may be holding up the process.
1. Waiting for More Information
The most innocuous reason for a lack of communication is that your insurance company is simply waiting for more information. Perhaps the adjuster has yet to file their paperwork or they need to contact the other party’s insurance company. If the insurance company is waiting for more information, you as a policyholder can inquire about the missing information and help the insurance company to obtain it.
2. Pending an Investigation
You may also be in a lurch because a formal investigation has not been completed. While it would be nice for your insurance company to contact you regardless of the status, they may feel that there is no reason to contact you when there aren’t any updates to share. Keeping after an insurance company can be tedious and time-consuming, which is why it’s good to have an attorney on your side to help get things done.
3. Discrepancies in the Accident Report
If the other party in the accident is contesting your account of the facts, or your version doesn’t match the official police report — the claims process may be held up. Your insurance company may keep you on ice while they try to sort out the truth, and sorting out the truth can take weeks or even months.
4. The Claim is Being Denied
You could also experience a lack of response when the claim is being denied. In those cases, you could receive formal written communication explaining why the claim was rejected. Why do insurance companies deny claims? There are a variety of reasons, such as insufficient coverage to pay for the type of accident that occurred and a determination that you were at fault (in certain states).
5. Bad Faith Practices
The final, and most troubling reason your insurance company may be avoiding you is that they are operating in bad faith. This means your insurer is not operating within the contract you signed, and you’re being denied the compensation you deserve. In this case, you almost certainly need a lawyer to ensure you get the money you’re owed.
Do you need help learning how to negotiate insurance settlements or getting your insurer to take you seriously? Reach out to South Dakota insurance claim lawyers at Turbak Law today at (866) 231-0914 to request a consultation.
