A car accident can cause many costs, including expensive medical bills, lost wages, property damages, and the loss of personal transportation. Filing an insurance claim can give you the funds you need to cover these costs.
However, many car accident victims question how long their claim may take and when they can expect payment from the insurance company.
How long it takes to receive compensation from the insurance company depends on various factors, including who’s liable and the extent of the damages. Additionally, the insurance company you use and what your policy states may also affect how long it takes to receive payment.
State Farm is a large insurance company offering policies in most U.S. states. They have a simple online claims process that allows policyholders to file quickly. However, discrepancies in liability or certain adjusters can slow down the process. Learn what to expect when filing a car accident claim with State Farm.
State Farm’s Claim Process
Here is what you can expect when filing a claim.
Initial Steps
You should report the car accident to State Farm as soon as possible. Waiting too long could affect your compensation eligibility.
Car accident victims can file a claim online through the company’s website. Other options for filing a claim include using the State Farm app or phone. Contact State Farm directly or file a claim through your insurance agent.
Filing a claim requires a description of what happened, a list of damages, photographs, police reports, a list of injuries, or repair estimates. State Farm takes this information, investigates it, and then uses it to determine a fair settlement amount.
This may also be an excellent time to review your insurance policy. Insurance policies list coverages, including maximum payments, time limits, coverages, and any special rules, such as maximum medical improvement (MMI).
Investigation and Evaluation
After filing the initial car accident claim, the company will assign an insurance adjuster to your account. From here, they will investigate and evaluate the claim. The adjuster may review damages, police reports, and witness statements.
They may also send someone to your house or the repair shop to review the damages in person. Providing State Farm with the requested information promptly can help speed up the claims process.
Whereas a repair shop estimate and medical bills tell State Farm the extent of your damages, a copy of the police report and witness statements help determine liability.
How State Farm Offers to Settle Claims
After completing a thorough evaluation, State Farm may offer a settlement. This settlement is a specific cash amount meant to cover your damages. In some cases, the insurance company may offer to replace your vehicle. This mostly happens when the damages to the vehicle are costlier than its replacement value.
Factors Influencing Claim Processing Time
There is no set amount of time to process a State Farm claim. Straightforward car accidents may take just a few weeks, whereas more complicated settlement claims take much longer. Here are a few factors that may influence the claims process timeline.
Complexity of the Claim
The complexity of the claim affects its processing time. Accident claims involving more serious injuries, including those with high medical expenses or rehabilitation costs, usually take much longer to process. Claims with extensive property damages or lost earnings can require more case evaluation and may extend the expected timeline by a few months.
The number of parties involved in an accident can also affect the expected timeline. A car accident claim involving multiple parties may take longer to investigate and, thus, to process and pay benefits. Each driver and passenger will work with their insurance company to receive medical treatment. Collaborating information and claims can slow down the process.
Insurance claims involving several factors may benefit from legal help to ensure prompt processing and payment.
Availability of Information
The availability of evidence will impact how long an injury victim can expect to wait for compensation. Insurance company adjusters often require proof to pay, and if they have to track it down, it can slow down the process. The claims adjuster may use photographs, videos, police reports, or medical records when determining a claim value.
Additionally, the evidence available may impact how much money the insurance company is willing to offer. Injuries with ample evidence, including medical treatment bills and expert witness reports, usually pay more than those without.
Getting State Farm to settle claim requests can be challenging without sufficient evidence. A personal injury lawyer plays a crucial role in gathering evidence.
Cooperation of Involved Parties
Whether or not the parties involved in the accident cooperate can speed up or slow down the expected timeline of processing a claim. Other drivers and insurance adjusters who may be involved in the claim can slow down the process. The availability of witnesses may also impact a victim’s ability to collect compensation promptly.
Disputes and Negotiations
Disputes from the insurance company may also slow down the claims process. The other driver or insurance carrier involved may attempt to take legal action against you for negligence. Your insurance company may even minimize your injuries to save money in bad faith.
Getting State Farm to settle may also require negotiations. A skilled personal injury attorney can help you receive a fair settlement offer. At Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, we have a proven track record of negotiating claims with State Farm, allowing car accident victims to collect more money.
State-Specific Regulations
Each state has laws involving investigation, the statute of limitations deadline, and processing timeline requirements. A car accident lawyer from Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers is here to guide you through the legal rules set by your state, ensuring your insurance provider holds up their end of the deal.
Typical Time Frames for State Farm Insurance Claim
How long does it take to process a State Farm claim? That depends on many factors. However, here is an average breakdown of what you can expect for State Farm claims.
Minor Claims
Minor claims with State Farm can be processed in a few weeks. Many victims with less damage or not as severe of injury can expect a faster payout.
Moderate Claims
Moderate claims involving more significant injuries or damages may take longer to pay, with at least a couple of months on average. These claims may include expensive vehicle repairs or immediate medical services.
Complex Claims
The most complex legal accident claims involve extenuating circumstances, often extending the expected compensation timeline. Non-traditional accident claims, such as when multiple parties share liability or there are disputes over liability, may take much longer. Some car accident victims may wait a few years or more to receive a fair settlement offer.
More complex claims may include anticipated medical costs, ongoing mental health counseling, or other less traditional costs. They are also more likely to be subject to maximum medical improvement limits. It’s important to note that these cases may most benefit from a personal injury lawyer.
Potential Reasons for Insurance Company Delays
Car accident claim delays may occur due to several reasons. Here are a few factors that may lead to slower processing times.
Backlogs and High Claim Volume
An insurance company with high claims volumes and backlogs usually takes much longer to settle claims. High backlogs and volume numbers can also minimize the time claims adjusters spend on each personal injury claim, leaving more room for error. We help car accident victims settle claims despite high backlogs or volume.
Investigation Challenges
Challenges during the claim investigation, such as unavailable witnesses or a lack of evidence, can also slow the time to receive a reasonable settlement. Our team urges State Farm to settle claims promptly by assisting with evidence collection.
Disputes and Negotiations
Disputes and negotiations also slow down State Farm claim timelines. We can ensure an accurate claim with faster payment by handling these negotiations and investigations.
Bad Faith Tactics
Some insurance companies may use delaying tactics to slow down or prevent payment. These bad-faith tactics prevent victims from covering medical bills, paying future medical expenses, or collecting income when they cannot work. Bad faith tactics also prevent victims from repairing their vehicles following a collision. Our team works to help resolve these issues.
Steps to Take if Your Claim is Delayed
Here are a few essential steps to take if your insurance claim is delayed.
Follow Up with State Farm
Sometimes, a quick follow-up is all you need to expedite claims. Reasonable delays can sometimes slow down the settlement time. You can check the status of your claim online or in the app.
Escalate the Matter
If you have filed a claim and already followed up with State Farm Insurance, it may be worth it to escalate the matter. It’s common for policyholders to escalate a claim to get State Farm to settle.
File a Complaint
If contacting State Farm fails to result in payment, you may need to file an official complaint. A complaint with the insurance regulatory authority encourages an official investigation into the company. If State Farm continues to sell insurance policies, they should also have a process to process policyholder claims promptly.
Consult a Personal Injury Lawyer
The Chicago car accident attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers can help speed up your State Farm claim. Our legal team is well-versed in holding the insurance company accountable for their delayed processing times.
We know how important it is for accident victims to receive sufficient compensation following a car accident. While many factors can influence how long it takes State Farm to settle claims, we believe it should be done promptly.
Secure Expert Legal Representation!
State Farm is a large insurance company with millions of policyholders. It claims to be a good neighbor and has many claim-filing options. However, claims adjusters sometimes minimize damages or delay the process, making it take longer. A typical insurance claim should take between a few weeks and a few months. Yet, more complex cases may take longer.
If you’re experiencing unreasonable delays or difficulties getting paid by State Farm, it may be worth pursuing legal action.
The Chicago car insurance claim attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers can help victims receive payment faster.
Contact us today at (888) 424-5757 for a free case evaluation. You can also use our online form.