Do Insurance Companies Drag Out Car Accident Claims?

When you’re dealing with the aftermath of a crash, the wait can get frustrating. You might even wonder whether your claim is being delayed on purpose. And the answer to that question is yes, insurance companies do often drag out car accident claims, leaving victims frustrated and financially strained.

While there are legitimate reasons for delays, such as investigating the accident or reviewing medical records, many insurers intentionally drag out the process. They may hope you’ll get desperate and accept a low settlement or give up altogether.

If you’re dealing with an insurance company that seems to be stalling, you’re not alone. Our Lafayette car accident lawyers explain why these delays happen, outline common strategies insurers use, and discuss what you can do to keep your claim moving forward.

Why Do Insurance Companies Delay Car Accident Claims?

Delays in car accident claims can happen for a variety of reasons—some understandable and others less so. While certain delays may stem from legitimate processes, others are strategies aimed at reducing payouts. It’s important to recognize the difference to protect yourself and your claim. Below are a few common reasons for delays.

Claim Investigation

Insurance companies often need time to investigate the details of an accident. This involves:

• Reviewing Police Reports: Insurers analyze accident reports to determine who was at fault. If the report is incomplete or unclear, it can slow down the process.
• Interviewing Witnesses: They may contact witnesses to get additional perspectives on how the accident occurred.
• Examining Medical Records: Insurers look at medical records to verify the severity of your injuries and whether they align with the accident’s details.

These steps can take weeks or even months, especially if there are disputes about fault or the extent of damages.

Document Requests

Insurance companies often require supporting documents to process a claim, such as:

• Medical records
• Repair estimates or receipts for vehicle damage
• Proof of lost wages if you missed work due to injuries

While some requests are necessary, insurers may delay the car accident insurance claim process by repeatedly asking for additional documentation, even after you’ve provided what they initially requested. This tactic can overwhelm claimants and slow progress unnecessarily.

Overwhelmed Adjusters

Sometimes, delays happen simply because insurance adjusters are juggling too many claims. Adjusters often handle dozens of cases at once, and when workloads become unmanageable, your claim may not get the attention it deserves.

This type of delay is frustrating because it feels like your case is being pushed to the back burner. While it’s not always intentional, it can still leave you waiting far longer than necessary for a resolution.

Tactics Insurance Companies Use to Delay Claims

Unfortunately, not all delays in the insurance claims process are accidental or unavoidable. Insurance companies often use deliberate tactics to slow things down, making the process frustrating and overwhelming for claimants.

Our Lafayette personal injury lawyers can recognize these tactics and push back to protect your rights. Below are some of the most common delay tactics insurers use.

Requesting Excessive Documentation

One of the most common strategies is asking for an overwhelming amount of documentation. Here are some hints that this might be happening in your case:

• Repetitive Requests: Insurers might repeatedly ask for the same records, such as medical reports, repair estimates, or proof of lost wages, even after you’ve already provided them.
• Unnecessary Requests: They may also demand irrelevant documents, like old medical records, in an attempt to stall the process.
• Delays in Reviewing: Even after receiving everything they asked for, they may take weeks or months to “review” the documents.

This tactic is designed to wear you down, hoping you’ll either make a mistake or give up on pursuing your injury claim altogether.

Offering Lowball Settlements

Another frustrating tactic is combining delays with an unreasonably low settlement offer, which is done by:

• Exploiting Desperation: After weeks or months of delays, the insurer may assume you’re financially strained and willing to accept less than what you’re owed.
• Making Rushed Offers: They may present the offer as a way to “speed things up,” encouraging you to settle quickly without fully evaluating your damages.

This tactic preys on your frustration and financial vulnerability, making it harder to hold out for the compensation you actually deserve.

Shifting Adjusters

Insurance companies will sometimes shuffle your claim between multiple adjusters to slow the process. That leads to:

• Restarting the Process: Each time a new adjuster is assigned, you may have to re-explain your case or resubmit documentation.
• Lacking Accountability: Shifting adjusters can make it harder to hold anyone responsible for delays, as no single person is managing your claim from start to finish.

This creates confusion and frustration, making the process feel endless.

Blaming You

Insurance companies may try to shift responsibility onto you to justify delays or deny your claim altogether by:

• Disputing Fault: They might argue that you were partially or fully responsible for the accident, even if the evidence doesn’t support this.
• Questioning Injuries: Insurers may claim your injuries are exaggerated, unrelated to the accident, or the result of a pre-existing condition.
• Demanding Proof: They may delay the claim by requiring extensive evidence to refute these accusations, even if it’s unwarranted.

This tactic not only delays your claim but also adds emotional stress as you work to prove your innocence and the legitimacy of your injuries.

Dragging Out Communication

Slow communication is another deliberate way insurers delay claims. Look out for adjusters who are:

• Ignoring Calls and Emails: Adjusters may take days or even weeks to respond to your inquiries.
• Delaying Updates: They might avoid giving you clear updates on the status of your claim, leaving you in the dark about what’s happening.
• Making Last-Minute Requests: Just as your case seems to be progressing, they may suddenly ask for additional information, causing further delays.

This tactic makes the process feel endless and discourages claimants from pursuing their case further.

How to Protect Yourself

If your car accident claim is dragging on, there are proactive steps you can take, but you don’t have to handle everything alone.

An experienced personal injury attorney can help manage these tasks and relieve much of the stress, allowing you to focus on recovering. Here’s how you can protect your claim, with or without legal help:

• Stay Organized: Keeping track of key documents—like medical records, repair estimates, and correspondence with the insurer—is critical. A lawyer can handle this for you, ensuring no paperwork is overlooked or misplaced.
• Follow Up Regularly: Consistent communication with the insurance company shows you’re serious about your claim. An attorney can take over these follow-ups, saving you time and helping to avoid unnecessary delays.
• Avoid Quick Settlements: While a fast settlement might seem appealing, it’s often much lower than what you deserve. A lawyer can review any offers, negotiate on your behalf, and fight for the full compensation you’re entitled to.
• Know Your Rights: Insurers must follow fair claims practices, but understanding these rules can be tricky. An attorney knows the laws inside and out and can hold the insurance company accountable if it acts unfairly.

By partnering with an experienced lawyer, you can ensure your claim stays on track and avoid being taken advantage of by insurance companies.

When to Seek Legal Help

If delays persist or the insurance company is engaging in unfair claims practices, it may be time to get legal help. Our experienced attorneys can step in to hold the insurer accountable, cut through red tape, and fight for the full compensation you need to move forward.

At Galloway Jefcoat, we’ve been helping Louisiana families since 1996. We understand how frustrating insurance delays can be, and we’re here to turn wrong into right.

Let us handle the insurance company while you focus on healing. Contact us today for a free consultation.