Automobile accidents in Georgia can cause you to lose time from work and accumulate medical bills. A car accident lawyer in Atlanta can help you seek financial compensation for your injuries. It can be stressful to think about everything you must do when you are trying to settle an insurance claim.
Insurance companies are for-profit entities interested in paying as little as possible to settle your insurance claim. It is possible that an insurance claim adjuster will try to offer you less than you claimed. If you do settle the insurance claim, you must wait for your settlement check to arrive. However, all jurisdictions set limits on how long insurance companies can take to settle claims.
Time Periods for Paying Insurance Claims in the State of Georgia
If the insurance company accepts your claim, then they will have ten days from the date they accept the claim to make payment. You will need to speak to an attorney to determine what to do if you do not receive payment within this time period.
If you submit a personal injury claim to the insurance company, then they have fifteen days to express acknowledgment that they received the claim. Also, insurance companies have fifteen days to submit proof of loss forms, which allow you to submit information regarding the damages you suffered. Once you submit the proof of loss forms, the insurance company has fifteen days to deny or accept your claim.
If the insurance company did not request proof of loss forms, then the insurance company has thirty days to deny or accept the claim. The insurance company may request additional time to deny or accept a claim, and if this is the case, then the insurance company will have 60 days from the date the insurance claim is filed to submit their decision.
Methods You Can Use to Make the Insurance Claims Process Faster
You cannot force the insurance company to deny or accept your claim. However, you can take the following actions to make sure the resolution of your insurance claim is prompt and thorough:
- Reach out to an attorney who can answer your questions
- Provide as many details as possible on the proof of loss form
- Examine your claim and make sure it contains a sufficient amount of evidence
- Read the insurance policy and be aware of the most relevant provisions
Being prepared to discuss your insurance claim with the insurance company will help you avoid unnecessary delays. If you need to gather more evidence for your insurance claim, then you should do so before you submit your initial claim. It will be necessary for you to substantiate your insurance claim with relevant evidence.
The Actions to Take if the Insurance Delays Submitting a Payment
If the insurance company misses the deadlines discussed here, then there may be reason to claim that the insurance company is acting in bad faith. You are advised to reach out to a personal injury attorney if you have not received payment from the insurance company by the deadline. However, it is possible that a clerical error or other type of mistake caused the delayed payment.
Unfair settlement practices may include the following actions:
- Failing to submit payment before the deadline
- Misrepresenting the facts to the individual who submitted the insurance claim
- Failing to provide a reasonable and accurate explanation regarding the denial of a claim
- Not providing the claimant with all the necessary forms and documents within fifteen days
Insurance companies are not above the law. You do not have to accept bad-faith conduct from the insurance company. A lawyer can help you assert a bad-faith insurance claim against the insurance company.
Settling Insurance Claims in Georgia
After a claimant files an insurance claim, insurance companies have forty days to settle the claim. This is a good timeframe to keep in mind while focusing on the deadlines listed above. The following steps should be taken by those who file insurance claims in Georgia:
- File the insurance claim within two years of the date of the injury
- Seek medical treatment and retain copies of all of your medical records
- Collect relevant evidence associated with the accident, including photographs, videos, and eyewitness statements
- File a police report so the accident is documented
The nature of your injuries will also influence the time that it takes for an insurance company to settle a claim. You need to understand the extent of your injuries so you can reach maximum medical improvement.
Working with the Insurance Company
It is important to work with the insurance company while they are conducting an investigation and assessing your claim. Sometimes specialists will be assigned to your case, and you may feel as if you are not being updated regarding the claims assessment process. It may take a significant amount of time for the specialists to analyze your claim.
You may challenge a claim determination, and this may cause the insurance claim process to take longer. You need to make sure that you consult with a personal injury lawyer regarding the settlement of your claims. The more you document your communications with your own attorney and with the insurance company, the more likely it will be that the insurance company will be willing to work out a settlement negotiation.
Reach Out to Us Today to Learn More About Settling Your Insurance Claim
You likely have many questions regarding the settlement of your claims. If this is the case, contact us today to schedule a free consultation. It can be difficult to feel as if you do not have enough information to make the best decisions regarding your insurance claim.
Insurance companies can be difficult to work with if you do not have legal counsel. Retaining a personal injury lawyer will help you keep the insurance company focused on completing their assessment of your claim before the deadline. It will strengthen your case if you focus on achieving your goals and ensuring that you have done everything within your power to let the insurance company know which deadlines apply to your insurance claim.