Sara Canning
Accidents are pretty common all over the US. You could be fine one moment and sustain severe injuries the next. Auto accidents, slip and falls, and construction accidents are some of the common types of accidents in the country.
When people are injured, they expect to be compensated by either their own insurance agency or the at-fault party’s insurance agency.
State Farm is an insurance agency that has been in the business for over 100 years and has been trusted by millions. The agency has over 19,000 agents to help policyholders.
You may wonder, if they have over 19,000, why does it take an eternity to settle my claim?
Well, the time it takes to receive a settlement depends on many factors.
This blog discusses the four reasons why your State Farm claim takes longer than usual. Read on.
Multiple Liable Parties
Complex cases usually take longer to settle. When there is more than one liable party, your case is bound to take longer than usual to settle.
The insurance adjusters will have to investigate each party and determine the role they played in the accident.
Also, if you are in a state that follows comparative negligence, the insurance adjuster will have to assign the percentage of fault of each party too.
Lack of Evidence
The one who files the claim (the victim) bears the burden of proof. It means you have to provide evidence to prove that the other party caused your accident.
Without proving liability, you cannot get compensation.
If you have substantial evidence to prove the negligence of the other party, the case will be settled soon.
If not, you will have to investigate and gather evidence, which is time-consuming.
You can combat this easily by collecting evidence at the scene of the accident. A couple of photos of your injuries, the other driver’s information, and witness statements are all you need.
Documentation Errors
Insurance adjusters will reject your claim if you have made a mistake while filling out a document. It may look like a silly reason, but it is a valid one.
If the claim is denied, then you have to file a claim again and fill out the documents correctly, at which point you may give up.
Fill out the forms without mistakes. Better yet, get the help of a lawyer. They can help you fill out the forms without any mistakes.
A Deliberate Strategy to Demotivate You
Sometimes, insurance adjusters will deliberately try to delay your claim in the hopes of you giving up.
You have to understand that insurance adjusters do not want to pay you. They are loyal to their company and want to minimize the compensation you receive.
Delay, Deny, and Defend is a strategy most insurance adjusters use to indirectly reject claims.
They will make you redo your documents for minor errors, ignore your calls, and use other strategies to delay your claim.
The idea is to pressure you into settling for a lesser amount or giving up the claim entirely.
A Lawyer Can Speed Up Your Claim
Personal injury lawyers know about all the factors that can impact the length of a claim. They also know how to combat them.
A lawyer is your best bet for reducing the length of your claim. They know what evidence is needed to win your case and how to gather it.
Insurance adjusters usually don’t mess with victims who have strong legal representation.
Final Thoughts
The length of the case depends on many factors. However, if you wait for the issues to resolve on their own, you will never get the compensation.
You need to get a lawyer to solve these issues. They can deal with the problems effectively and get you the compensation you deserve.
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