What Happens if an Insurance Company Doesn’t Respond?

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Dealing with insurance companies after an accident, loss, or claim can be frustrating. You file paperwork, make calls, and send demand letters expecting a timely response. But sometimes insurers give claimants the silent treatment, refusing to acknowledge or respond to inquiries. So what recourse do you have when an insurance company stonewalls you?

No Legal Obligation to Respond

The unfortunate truth is insurance companies have no legal obligation to respond to claimants in most cases. The lack of firm requirements allows insurers to delay and ignore claimants at will.

Though unfair, this lack of duty to respond gives insurers latitude to dodge interactions in hopes claimants will take lowball offers out of desperation.

Potential Tactics Insurers Use

When insurers give claimants the cold shoulder, some common tactics may be at play:

  • Hoping claimants accept low offers due to financial duress
  • Trying to wait out statutes of limitations
  • Wearing claimants down to settle for less
  • Playing claimants against each other in liability disputes
  • Obstructing claims to dissuade pursuit of compensation
  • Attempting to conceal lack of evidence for denials

Options for Recourse

When faced with an unresponsive insurer, you have options to compel engagement and action:

  • Send written complaints to state insurance commissioners
  • Consult regulatory agencies that oversee insurance practices
  • Contact supervisors and executives at the insurer
  • Retain legal counsel to escalate on your behalf
  • Review bad faith lawsuit options with an attorney
  • Change tactics to expedite claim processing

Never Cave to Pressure

The most important thing is never to allow an insurer’s negligence to pressure you into accepting an unfair offer. Be proactive with your claim, assert your rights, and explore ways to hold unresponsive insurers accountable for their duty to investigate and settle claims fairly.

With an attorney’s help, you can counter stall tactics and force insurers to address your claim properly or face harsh penalties for acting in bad faith. Don’t let insurers shirk their obligations. Take control of the claims process with diligence and legal support.

What If The Insurance Company Does Not Respond By The Demand Deadline?

FAQ

What to do if insurance company ignores you?

Follow up with the insurance company after a few weeks of not hearing back. Leave a voicemail explaining that you filed a claim or sent a demand letter and are still waiting for a response. Include your latest contact number and address. A reminder could be all the insurance company needs to return your call.

How long does an insurance company have to respond to you?

Whenever you contact the insurance company during the claims process, it should respond to you within 15 days. The response should be immediate, with 15 days being the absolute limit.

What happens if someone doesn’t respond to insurance claim?

If the other driver never calls their insurance company back to answer their questions about the accident, many insurance companies will eventually deny insurance coverage. This turns your insurance claim into an Uninsured Motorist Claim.

Why does insurance take so long to respond?

There could be a simple explanation for the lack of a response, such as that the adjuster is backed up with work or went on vacation, or the demand letter got lost in the shuffle at the insurance company. Or, your claim could require extra work and time to process, because of the severity of your injuries or damages.

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