What Happens If An Insurance Company Doesn’t Respond To A Claim?

Dealing with insurance companies after an accident or injury can be frustrating. It’s not uncommon for insurance adjusters to delay, ignore, or deny claims. If an insurance company doesn’t respond to your claim or settlement demand, it can leave you wondering what to do next.

When an insurer stalls or “stonewalls” a legitimate claim, there are ways to hold them accountable and get the compensation you deserve. Here is what to know about how to get an insurance company to respond to your claim and what recourse you have if they continue to ignore you.

Why Insurance Companies Delay Claims

There are a few common reasons an insurance company may be slow or unresponsive to claims:

• They want to minimize payouts and increase profits. Delaying claims allows more time to find ways to reduce settlement amounts.

• They hope you’ll give up or accept a lowball offer. Ignoring claims prompts some people to walk away or take whatever they can get.

• They are overwhelmed. Many insurers are understaffed, so adjusters are overloaded with too many claims.

• Lack of proper documentation. Incomplete claims or insufficient evidence of damages can stall the review process.

• Complex claims take time. Severe injuries, multiple parties, or unclear fault lines require extensive investigation.

While these reasons can cause claim delays, it doesn’t relieve the insurer of their duty to handle claims promptly and in good faith. Unreasonable delays may constitute a breach of contract.

Steps To Get The Insurance Company To Respond

If an insurance company is unresponsive to your claim, here are steps to prompt them to engage:

Follow up persistently – Don’t assume a lack of response means your claim is closed. Keep contacting the claims adjuster regularly until you get an answer. Get confirmation they received your demand letter.

Go up the ladder – If the adjuster is unhelpful, contact their supervisor or manager. Explain that the delays are causing significant financial and emotional harm.

Submit a complaint – File a complaint with your State Department of Insurance citing “failure to respond” and “bad faith.” Regulators can penalize lack of due diligence.

Consult an attorney – Have a lawyer send a demand letter on attorney letterhead. It puts the insurer on notice and shows you are serious. The attorney can take legal action if needed.

File a lawsuit – If other efforts fail, a personal injury lawsuit may prompt the insurer to talk. Discovery demands can force documentation. Lawsuits often spur settlements.

Contact media/regulators – As a last resort, contact media, regulators, or consumer websites bringing attention to the insurer’s claim delays and unresponsiveness. The bad publicity motivates response.

Remaining professional but firm with your communications is key. Document all contacts and non-responses. Understand delays, but don’t enable unethical claim handling.

Consequences For Failing To Respond

If an insurance company outright ignores a valid injury claim, they could face these repercussions:

• Complaints and investigations – State regulators may penalize lack of due diligence and unfair claims practices with fines or probation.

• Litigation – Claimants can sue insurers who delay or deny claims in bad faith for breach of contract. This can lead to the insurer paying damages.

• Loss of customers – Policyholders may switch insurance companies after experiencing poor claim service and unresponsiveness. This impacts the company’s bottom line.

• Reputational damage – Social media and online reviews highlight insurers with systemic claim mishandling. This hurts their brand, public trust, and ability to attract customers.

Though consequences exist, it often takes pressure from claimants to trigger them. Don’t let an insurer take advantage of your claim due to lack of action on your part.

Steps To Take If Your Claim Is Ignored

Here are proactive steps to take if an insurance company continues to ignore your inquiries and claim demands:

Document everything – Record details and dates of every contact attempt, including emails, letters, and calls. Note who you spoke to and any response received.

Send a demand letter – Have an attorney send a letter by