Consulting with an Atlanta car accident lawyer should be your next step if the insurance company doesn’t respond to your demand letter. Getting professional help from a lawyer can ensure that you understand your options. An attorney can also protect your claim.
Based on your situation, an attorney may take over communication with the insurance company, potentially entering into a period of negotiations. A lawyer could also change tactics and help you file a personal injury lawsuit if the insurance company continues to ignore you.
Your Steps if Insurance Doesn’t Respond to a Demand Letter
If the insurance company does not offer a prompt response to your demand letter after a crash, there are some steps you can take to take action. Including:
- Keeping an open line of communication and continuing to reach out to the insurance company at least once every week
- Contacting your insurance adjuster supervisor
- Mentioning to the claims adjuster that you have concerns that they are handling your claim in bad faith
- Contacting a car accident lawyer for help holding the insurance company accountable
An Atlanta personal injury lawyer can provide personalized advice about your next steps if insurance doesn’t respond to your demand letter. An attorney can also help you avoid mistakes in dealing that could prevent you from securing fair compensation.
Does the Insurance Company have to Respond to a Demand Letter?
Insurance companies are not legally obligated to respond to demand letters they receive after a car accident victim files a claim. Even though Georgia law states that the insurance company must process your claim in a reasonable amount of time, there is no significant penalty when demand letters go unanswered.
However, your Atlanta insurance claims lawyer will be ready to take action against the company if they refuse to give your claim the attention it deserves. Your lawyer may file a civil lawsuit if they continue to handle your claim in bad faith.
Potential Responses to Your Demand Letter
The insurance company could respond to your demand letter in several ways once it has completed its investigation into your claim. These potential responses include:
Making a Counter-Offer
After receiving your demand for compensation, the company may make a settlement offer. Although this offer may be significantly less than you initially demanded in your letter, it is a good start as you attempt to get the most out of your car accident claim.
The company will lose money by paying out on your claim, so you can expect the insurance adjuster to do what they can to reduce this loss. They could protect their profits if they can offer significantly less than your claim is worth.
However, the company’s profits are not your problem. Your car accident lawyer will be ready to continue settlement negotiations with the company until we reach a reasonable agreement that sufficiently meets your needs.
Rejecting Your Demands
The insurance company could reject your demand letter altogether. If the company sends you a rejection letter, you may initially feel defeated and have little desire to move forward with an appeal.
However, with help from your personal injury lawyer, we can send the insurance company a counteroffer, complete with additional supporting evidence and other information that could result in a decision reversal. Companies can reject car accident demands because the liable party argues that the injury victim shares the blame for their damages.
However, since Georgia is a modified comparative negligence state, sharing fault does not prohibit you from recovering compensation through an insurance settlement. It will reduce the compensation you can win, but the insurance company should not reject your payment demands.
Accepting Your Demands
In rare instances, the insurance company may accept your demands as outlined in your demand letter. However, insurance companies are profit-driven and can only pay out on your claim if explicitly required. Generally, your attorney can secure a reasonable offer after settlement negotiations to pay for your:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Property repairs
- Pain, suffering, and emotional distress
You can learn more about the compensation available for your financial losses when you reach out to an attorney for professional help.
Keep in mind that, if the company does accept your demands, it may be a sign that your claim is worth substantially more or the amount you request is significantly less than the company expected to pay.
If the insurer can tempt you into accepting less due to your need for financial support, they could get away with settling for less than the value of your claim. For this reason, never accept a settlement offer from the insurance company without first reviewing it with your car accident attorney.
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Factors that Impact How Long it Takes the Insurance Company to Respond
Multiple factors could influence how long the company responds to your demand letters. Some factors that determine how long it takes the insurer to respond to your demand letter include:
- The company’s resources
- The amount of compensation you are seeking
- The details of the policyholder’s insurance policy
- Whether you have previously corresponded with the insurance company
- The evidence included in your demand letter (medical records, police reports, etc.)
- Whether multiple fault parties share liability
The insurance company may attempt to delay the processing of your claim by refusing to respond to your demand letter, only to turn around and make an insulting settlement offer. They may do this to tempt you into accepting less than what your personal injury claim is worth.
If you receive an accident settlement offer from the insurance company, discuss the offer with your personal injury attorney before you accept. This way, you can gain insight into the actual value of your auto accident claim and avoid being tricked into being taken advantage of by profit-driven insurers.
How Long Will it Take to Get a Response?
Some insurance companies respond to demand letters within one week. Others take several months before sending a response to accident victims. Companies may try to delay the legal process by ignoring letters completely.
A lawyer can offer more information about how car insurance companies handle car accident claims in Georgia.
Talk to Us About a Lack of Response to Your Demand Letter
So, what are your next steps if insurance doesn’t respond to your demand letter? In this situation, you can rely on an attorney to help you secure maximum compensation by dealing with the company or filing a personal injury claim.
Car insurance claims can be notoriously tricky, especially if you aren’t familiar with your specific insurance policy. Insurers lose money by settling claims and think they can escape their financial obligations by ignoring or not responding to demand letters.
Take action against the insurance company and be proactive with your claim. Reach out to a dedicated car accident lawyer at John Foy & Associates for legal support regarding your insurance policy when you need it most. Please fill out our online contact form or call us to get started on your insurance claims as soon as today.
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