How Long Does an Insurance Company Have to Investigate a Claim?

You have been hurt in a car accident. Your medical bills are piling up. You have been unable to work and have other bills to pay. 

Someone else was responsible for what occurred to you, and you believe the insurance company should be providing for your losses. How long does an insurance company have to investigate a claim? When can you expect to see compensation for your losses?

At John Foy & Associates, our Atlanta car accident lawyer works closely with you to pursue compensation as quickly as possible for your losses. Yet, beyond a doubt, it is frustrating when an insurance company seems to take a long time to get back to you. Having an attorney may help, especially as that means the insurance adjuster knows you are serious about receiving compensation. 

We recommend contacting us for a free consultation if you have been waiting too long.

What to Know about the Insurance Company’s Right to Investigate

Insurance policies are contracts that provide very specific rules for all parties to follow. These contracts provide some basic rights. Insurance companies are tasked with being fair and reasonable, as well as to be timely. However, they also allow the insurance company to be thorough in its investigation.

Typically, insurance companies have 15 days to acknowledge receipt of the claim you submit. That does not mean they have to decide within that time frame. They then have 15 days to investigate the claim. They have 40 days to settle the claim from start to finish.

Why Is Your Claim Taking Longer?

There are many situations where you may find there are delays. Those 15 days of investigation can also seem very long, especially if you are not receiving any communication from the insurance company or they continue to ask for more information. There are some situations where it can take longer, especially if the situation involves multiple claims from various people or there is any situation in which there are concerns about the legitimacy of the claim.

Can the Insurance Company Request More Time?

The insurance company can make a claim for needing more time. In some situations, they simply want more time to “make a decision” or to “further investigate” the claim. The insurance company can make a formal request for more time. If they do so, they can request up to 60 additional days to make a decision.

What Happens After Those 15 Days?

Insurance companies have 15 days after accepting the claim information to make a decision on it. That decision may include denying or accepting the claim. If they deny it, they must tell you why. If they accept it, that does not mean the insurance company will give you all of the compensation you have requested. They may state that they do not believe you are owed full compensation, or they may try to prove that you were partially at fault for the incident.

This type of scenario can lead to some negotiations between you (or your car accident attorney) and the insurance company. Their goal is to keep the payout as low as possible. Our goal is to maximize the compensation.

When no agreement can be reached between the two parties, the next step is to go to court. This can delay the process significantly. We recommend going to court when there is likely to be significant compensation available to you if you do. We do not recommend settling your case for less than what you are owed – we will fight for the compensation owed to you in every case.

How Our Attorneys Negotiate Your Claim to Get Maximum Compensation

When you work with our car accident attorneys, our goal is to do all we can to maximize your compensation from the insurance company while still getting those funds to you as soon as possible. That is a balancing act that we take seriously.

Gathering Evidence

The more evidence and information available, the more likely it is for the insurance company to settle fairly. No one wants to go to court because it is expensive and time-consuming, and when we can provide clear information about your losses through evidence, it is very difficult to refute that payment.

We Handle Delays Fast

Insurance companies cannot ignore the rules when it comes to meeting timeline requirements. Under Georgia Code section §33-6-34, they may be found in violation of unfair settlement practices if they delay in making payment or simply do not acknowledge your claim within these timeframes. If they do not provide a reasonable and accurate explanation of why they denied your claim or they do not provide payment to you within the 10-day timeframe allowable, you can file a lawsuit against them.

We Keep You Advised of Your Options

There are many steps in filing a claim after a serious car accident. Without a doubt, our legal team at John Foy & Associates has the goal of getting the claim settled for the most amount possible in the fastest time frame. We will continue to provide you with updates about your legal options and rights throughout the process. 

Our team is transparent with you about your options. We do not promise more than we believe you are owed, and we do not stall in fighting for your compensation.

Set Up a Free Consultation with John Foy & Associates Now to Get Help

After a car accident, you just want to move on. When it seems that the process is taking a long time, you may be unsure what steps to take. Now that you know how long an insurance company has to investigate a claim, you may be ready to push them to get funds in your hands sooner. We can help you do that.

Contact John Foy & Associates to learn more about the legal options available to you. We provide a free consultation to our clients to offer them insight and guidance on all of the options available to their situation. Set up a free consultation with our team now – there is no cost to you if we do not help you receive compensation.