Waiting for an insurance claim to be settled while medical bills and other expenses pile up is stressful. It can seem like your insurance company is dragging its feet, but many factors affect how long it takes to recover a settlement. State Farm is subject to the same laws, obstacles, and solutions as any other insurance company in Illinois.
Fortunately, Illinois has passed a number of laws intended to protect the rights of insurance customers. These rules are designed to make the claims settlement process more transparent.
Factors That Influence an Insurance Settlement Timeline
Over 23 million insurance claims are filed in Illinois each year. However, volume is not an excuse for a poor response. While State Farm must operate within the law, it is still possible for any insurance company to delay payment as long as it can.
Some reasons for delays are legitimate, including the following:
- An injury victim is receiving ongoing mental, physical, or occupational therapy
- Additional treatments will be needed in the future
- An injury victim hasn’t reached their maximum medical improvement threshold
- Multiple parties have been found liable
- An especially high amount and quality of evidence must be researched
- Involved parties are cooperating poorly
Some of the tactics used to delay settlement are evidence of bad faith dealing. If you believe your State Farm representative is handling your claim negligently, you may have legal grounds for a lawsuit.
Bad Faith Tactics
Some examples of bad faith actions include:
- Failing to notify the injury victim of damages after an inspection
- Misrepresenting the types and limits of coverage
- Failing to communicate with a claimant or reply to a claim promptly
- Knowingly misattributing vehicle damages (in the case of an auto accident)
- Refusing reasonable settlement offers
Insurance companies are obligated to handle all claims appropriately and as swiftly as possible. If they do not, your personal injury attorney can take steps to hold them accountable.
What Does The Illinois Insurance Code Say?
The Illinois Insurance Code protects consumers from fraudulent insurance practices. The timelines and deadlines set out in the code help customers gauge whether they are being treated fairly.
However, the law does provide for flexibility in the time frame. A thorough and time-consuming investigation can be an advantage to an insurance customer. Here are some of the main points included in the code:
Claim Processing
An insurer must use reasonable promptness — defined as a maximum of 15 days — when processing a claim. If your claim relates to a natural disaster or a complex accident that involved several people, conditions can legitimately affect how quickly claims are processed.
Communication
Reasonable promptness is also expected in matters of communication. Your representative should respond to any important correspondence from you, regardless of the type of communication, within 15 days.
Investigation
Insurers are granted 21 working days from the date of notification to complete an investigation. However, factors beyond the insurance company’s control can cause the investigation to take longer. During that time, the insurer is obligated to communicate with all involved claimants.
Payment Or Denial
Once the investigation has been completed, State Farm has 30 days to establish liability and estimate damages.
A Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help With Your State Farm Claim
Waiting for an auto or motorcycle accident claim to be completed requires patience. If things go smoothly, the review process could be finished within a few weeks. For more complicated cases, it can take up to six months before a decision on liability is finalized.
You can help the process along by being cooperative and honest with your State Farm representative. Reply to communications quickly and provide all the information that is requested.
If you or your passengers were injured, especially with severe injuries that require major medical care, it’s in your best interests to speak with a personal injury attorney. An experienced attorney will fight for your rights and work hard to help you get the compensation you deserve.
Contact the Joliet Car Accident Law Firm of Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys for Help Today
For more information, please contact the experienced Chicago Car Accident lawyers at Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys today. We offer free consultations.
We proudly serve Cook County, Will County, Kendall County, and its surrounding areas:
Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys – Chicago Office
10 S La Salle St STE 1230, Chicago, IL 60603
Phone:(312) 726-1616
Hours: Open 24/7
Our firm is located near you. We have an office in Chicago
Find us with our GeoCoordinates: 41.8815493,-87.6327515
Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys – Joliet Office
195 Springfield Ave, Joliet, IL 60435
Phone: (815) 726-1616
Our firm is located near you. We have an office in Joliet
Find us with our GeoCoordinates: 41.5254295,-88.1381011