When you bought your insurance policy, you did so to protect yourself. It’s hard to believe that the insurance claims process could actually add stress to your already troublesome situation, but this is often the case.

Car insurance companies are looking for any way to deny or devalue claims. One tactic they use to try to improve their chances of getting claimants to accept lowball offers is to delay the process.

From their perspective, the longer they take, the more likely it will be that the injured individual will accept their offer. Claimants may be desperate for compensation because they have huge medical bills they need to pay off while being unable to work.

If you feel like the insurance company is taking forever to return your phone calls or review documents you submit, they may not be incompetent. They may actually be doing it on purpose.

In this article you can learn the variety of tactics used by insurance companies to delay the claims process, why they would intentionally do this, and how you can get expert assistance with your Austin, TX car accident claim.

Signs the Insurance Company Is Intentionally Delaying Your Claim

A man in Austin, Texas looks at his phone in confusion due to an insurance company intentionally delaying his claim.

There are certain things insurance companies often do when they are trying to delay the process. Below are some examples of these tactics:

 

 

  • They take forever to return your calls. At first, they may get back to you quickly. As time goes on, though, you might wait longer and longer to hear back before they finally answer and mislead you over the phone. 
  • They keep providing more forms for you to fill out. Not only do you have to spend more time filling these forms out with information the insurance company already has or doesn’t need, but the insurance company can also spend a long time “reviewing” these forms. On top of this, if you don’t have time to drop these forms off in person, you may have to send them by fax or email which the insurance company will claim they never received. 
  • They delay their investigation of your claim. It is reasonable to allow some time for the insurance company to investigate, but it is unreasonable for the investigation to take several weeks or longer.
  • They ignore your calls and emails after making a lowball offer. They may not have closed the claim yet, but they do not want to negotiate. In these cases, they think they can simply ignore you and wait until you eventually accept their offer. They do this because they know you need compensation sooner rather than later to pay your medical expenses.
  • They contest the severity of your injury or its connection to the crash. They may do this no matter how severe your injury is or how clear your medical records are about what caused the injury.
  • They contest the severity of your injury or its connection to the crash. They may do this no matter how severe your injury is or how clear your medical records are about what caused the injury.

How Delays Benefit the Insurance Company

It is in the insurance company’s best interest to delay your claim because the longer they delay, the longer they can avoid paying out compensation. Any compensation they pay comes directly out of their profits.

While most claims are resolved via insurance settlements, you do have the option of filing a lawsuit. However, insurance companies are well aware that you only have two years from the date of a car crash in Texas to file a claim, so they will attempt to delay your claim until that deadline is up.

If you have any reason to suspect an unreasonable delay in the process, you should call our experienced car accident attorneys. It is unfair, but insurance companies often take claims more seriously when they are being pursued by attorneys.

Lorenz & Lorenz is Here to Help

An experienced Austin, Texas auto accident attorney helps a client with their car accident claim.

Did you know individuals who hire attorneys often recover more compensation than those who do not?

The no-nonsense Austin, TX, auto accident lawyers at Lorenz & Lorenz are prepared to help you pursue your maximum compensation after a crash. We have helped numerous people involved in Texas car crashes secure the compensation they needed to move forward with their lives.

There are no upfront fees for our services, and we do not get paid unless you receive compensation, so call Lorenz & Lorenz today to schedule a free consultation.