When you need insurance money to cover damages, you need it right away. Sometimes, it can feel like the insurance adjuster assigned to your claim has better things to do than contact you about getting you the money you need to fix your roof or clean up after a flood.
Many factors affect when you will hear from your adjuster after filing an initial claim. Some companies return calls within 24-48 hours, while other, smaller companies may take longer to contact you.
If you are tired of waiting for an adjuster who just will not communicate with you, Wallace Law can help. We will step in with legal muscle to fight sluggish insurance companies and get you the money you need to move forward with your repairs and your life.
What Happens if an Insurance Adjuster Doesn’t Contact You in Time?
Insurance adjusters may not return your calls for a myriad of reasons. It could be that they are simply overwhelmed with claims, but sometimes adjusters may act in bad faith. Bad faith practices include deliberately delaying their response times and/or erroneously denying claims.
Adjusters may also be attempting to get you to accept a lowball settlement offer by waiting to see you if you are desperate enough to take it if they run the clock. If your adjuster will not call you back, you can take actionable steps to get the ball rolling:
- Keep a detailed log of the communication attempts you make to the adjuster, and calls and correspondence sent to you.
- Contact the insurance company’s customer service line and ask to speak to a supervisor.
- Send paper correspondence to the adjuster via certified mail to create a paper trail of your attempts.
- Hire an insurance dispute attorney to handle your claim. Sometimes, it is easier to have an experienced attorney handle the fight for you.
Some insurance companies may advise you to “leave lawyers out of it,” in an attempt to get you to agree to their offers or accept less than what you are owed. Rest assured that every insurance company has an entire legal team on their staff ensuring their best interests. Having your own legal advocate can mean the difference between getting results sooner or continuing to wait for a call.
Do Different Insurance Claims Have Different Deadlines?
Yes. Depending on the type of claim you file, the rules about communication deadlines will be different. Additionally, rules that govern insurance claims vary from state to state.
For example, once a car insurance claim is submitted, the insurance company usually has 30 days to investigate and respond to the claim. The time frame for hurricane frames is typically shorter, giving the insurance company approximately 14 days to respond after a claim is filed. Personal injury claims may have varied time frames, but a 30-day response time once a claim is filed is general practice.
An experienced insurance dispute attorney can help ensure that your claim is being responded to within the legal time frame allowable for your type of claim and based on the state in which your claim is being filed. At Wallace Law, we handle claims in every state and have attorneys knowledgeable in each state’s insurance laws.
How Do I Know if an Insurance Adjuster Is Acting in Bad Faith?
Fighting an insurance carrier alone can feel overwhelming. It can be difficult to know if the delay in responding to you is normal or if your adjuster is acting in bad faith. Signs your adjuster may be acting in bad faith include but are not limited to:
- Denying your claim for no reason
- Offering a settlement that is far lower than the amount generally given for your type of claim.
- Never returning your calls, responding to you, or corresponding with you.
If you feel you are getting nowhere with your insurance company, have had a claim denied, or simply do not know how to proceed, hiring an attorney can be a smart choice.
Do Insurance Companies Have a Time Limit for Responses?
Each state has laws that govern how soon an insurance company must respond to your claim. Generally, an insurer will have 30 days to respond to a claim. Laws in every state provide that carriers cannot intentionally delay claims, and should make every possible effort to make the claims process as efficient as possible. In Wisconsin insurance companies must respond to your communications within 10 business days, although there is no specific penalty for failing to do so.
Certain scenarios may affect the speed of your claim, like whether or not an investigation is necessary, and whether or not you provide the insurance company with requested documentation when you are asked for it. Keep in mind, however, that an insurance carrier should not ask you to produce documentation that is usurious or burdensome to produce.
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What Do Insurance Adjusters Do?
Insurance claims adjusters are employees of an insurance company who are assigned to individual claims. When a claim is filed, it is assigned to an adjuster whose job it is to determine how much liability the company has to pay the claim. They inspect the damage, interpret the policy, and calculate a settlement which is then offered to the claimant.
Insurance adjusters act as the main point of contact between claimants and the insurance company, so they must keep the lines of communication open. Their responsibility is to act fairly, but they are also employed by the insurer and must protect the insurer’s interests.
What Do I Do if Insurance Denies My Claim?
If your claim has been denied, you still have options to attempt to receive a settlement. First, you may file an appeal with your insurance company. Keep detailed records of all the correspondence you have with the company, including the official request for appeal.
When a claim is denied, you may want to hire an experienced attorney to take over. An experienced insurance dispute attorney can help by taking over your appeal and working with you and the insurer toward a settlement. If necessary, your attorney can also file a lawsuit on your behalf if a settlement cannot be reached out of court.
A Lawyer Can Show You How to Write an Appeal Letter
Appeal letters should include information applicable to your claim, and additional information that supports your opinion that your claim was improperly denied. When writing an appeal letter, be sure to adhere to the following principles.
- Be courteous. Be respective, and non-emotive. Do not use offensive language or threats.
- State the facts. Make sure you include relevant, factual data in your claim that will help the recipient get an idea of the chain of events as they relate to your claim.
- Be concise. Avoid including arbitrary details and keep your appeal short. State why you think your denial was invalid, and give supporting evidence of why you believe your claim should not have been denied.
- Include supporting paperwork. Repair estimates, medical bills, and any documentation related to your claim can help provide a basis for your appeal.
- Write clearly and correctly. Consider having a friend or loved one proofread your paper.
An experienced attorney can help ensure your appeal letter is written properly and contains all the information it needs to be considered by the insurance company. Sometimes, a claim will be denied or an appeal ignored due to clerical errors and/or omissions.
What Do I Do if the Insurance Company Denies My Appeal?
If the insurance company denies your appeal, you still can move forward pursuing your claim. When an internal appeal is denied, you then have the option to appeal to a third-party independent adjuster for review. Some states have rules that determine where a denied appeal must be filed. For instance, in some states, you can send your claim to the state’s insurance review board or office of insurance regulation.
Even if your claim is denied at this level, you may still have the option to appeal your claim and receive compensation. Hiring an experienced insurance dispute attorney is the best way to protect your interests and ensure you can appeal your claim to the highest authorities.
In some cases, a lawsuit against the insurance company may be necessary to receive the compensation you need to recover from your losses. If so, an experienced insurance lawyer can help you build a case and represent you in court.
Talk to an Insurance Claims Denial Lawyer if You’re Getting the Run-Around
Insurance should give policyholders peace of mind knowing that, in the event it is needed, insurance funds will be given to them to help them recover from a loss. Unfortunately, insurance denials are more common than you think. If you feel like your claim has been denied unjustly, or if you are getting the run-around from your carrier, it is time to bring in a strong legal advocate.
The team of attorneys at Wallace Law can help. We have experienced attorneys who can handle insurance disputes in every state. Contact us today to find out how we can take over the fight against the insurance company and help you get the money you need.
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