When you are in an accident, the last thing you want is to deal with insurance companies. Unfortunately, that is just a fact of life, and besides taking care of your injuries and looking after your health, you may also have to devote quite a bit of time to getting your claim paid by the insurance company. You may discover they are not too willing to give you the amount of money you need or that you are being pressured to accept a lowball offer. You can read more here to understand how insurance companies operate and what to do if you need to file a lawsuit against them.
What are the steps that an insurance claim timeline follows?
- The process starts as soon as you report the accident to the at-fault driver’s insurance company.
- Then, the insurance company will assign an adjuster to investigate your claim.
- You and the other driver may receive calls from the adjuster requesting your statements. Keep in mind that anything you say to them can and will be used against you. It may also be misinterpreted, resulting in your claim being denied or an even lower amount being offered. The best thing you can do is to talk to your accident attorney before giving a statement or signing any documents.
- Once the adjuster considers the investigation is finished, they will issue a decision regarding your claim.
- If your case is successful, you will be informed about this and receive a settlement offer.
- If your case is unsuccessful, you can either appeal their decision or escalate the matter into a lawsuit. If you have been offered an amount you know will be insufficient to cover your needs, you’ll need to negotiate for a higher amount. When that does not yield the desired results, a lawsuit is your next option.
What factors play a role in how fast your claim is settled?
In general, the insurance company must resolve the claim within 60 days. Otherwise, they risk penalties. If your accident and injuries are minor, it will likely be resolved in a shorter amount of time. Accidents that are more extensive, especially if they involve fatal injuries, or where the liability is unclear may take longer to settle.
If your injuries are severe and you need more time to heal, the settlement amount may increase. You may have to take more time off from work, and your car may require extensive repairs at the shop. These factors may result in long negotiations with the insurance company, and they will likely need more time to investigate your claim and settle it.
Something that may work in your favor is when the other driver does not dispute your claim or where there is clear evidence proving that they are responsible. In these cases, you will likely get the settlement amount faster.
When the other driver insists that they are not responsible, the investigation will take longer, delaying the timing for your case to be settled.
There are many reasons why working with an accident attorney is your best option when it comes to getting your insurance claim lawsuit settled. They know the law and have honed their negotiating skills to fight for the rights of their clients.