Getting involved in an accident can put you under financial strain. The cost of medical bills, property damages, and loss of income can easily pile up. Thus, it’s understandable that many people who are involved in an accident wonder how long it will take for an insurance claim to be processed. Many injury victims find themselves asking “How long do insurance claims take?” simply because they have no idea.
The problem is that there is no guaranteed timeframe for an insurance claim to be approved. Filing an insurance claim and getting it processed and paid depends on the facts of the case. For personal injury cases, it is usually determined by these two factors:
1. What Kind of Injuries Did You Sustain in the Accident?
Before you file an insurance claim, your personal injury attorney will advise you to get your injuries treated. Therefore, how long an insurance claim takes will depend on the kind of injuries that you sustained during the accident.
If you had significant injuries, such as fractures, head and eye injuries, deep lacerations, or dismemberment, then processing your insurance claims would take longer. It’s important for you to have completed the treatment for your injuries before filing an insurance claim.
On the other hand, if you only had minor injuries like soft tissue injuries, torn ligaments, and muscle sprains, then your insurance claim will likely be processed much faster.
2. What Type of Treatments Did Your Doctors Prescribe?
Another factor that should also be considered is the type of treatments that your doctors prescribed. If the treatment course is short, then the insurance claims will usually take a little less time.
However, if you require treatments for longer periods of time (like rehab or physical therapy), then the insurance claims process is longer.
Factors That May Delay an Insurance Claim
As much as you would like the whole insurance claim process to be done as quickly and smoothly as possible, sometimes, that might not happen.
Below are a few common reasons why your insurance claim might be delayed:
You Haven’t Reached Maximum Medical Improvement
Filing insurance claims, assessing damages, and taking legal action are just a few of the things that you must take care of after an accident. The first thing you must do is to get your injuries treated right away.
One factor that could delay your insurance claim is that you haven’t reached the maximum medical improvement (MMI). This means that your condition isn’t stable yet and is likely to change without medical treatment.
You should never delay getting medical treatment, even if you think that you only sustained minor injuries. Waiting to seek medical care can hurt your insurance claim because the adjusters will deduce that if you didn’t seek immediate care, your injuries might not be as serious as you claim.
There Are Coverage Discrepancies
Sometimes, an insurance claim could be delayed due to coverage discrepancies. This can happen because the insurer who is investigating the claim has decided that the accident doesn’t fall within the policy’s scope of coverage.
When this happens, the best thing that you can do is to call the insurance company and find out why your claim was delayed. Make sure to gather evidence that you weren’t at-fault for the accident.
You Haven’t Paid The Deductibles
Your insurance deductible is the out-of-pocket cost that you pay before your insurance company pays the remainder of the claim. For example, if your policy has a $500 deductible and your claim is at $3000, then you must pay that amount before the insurance company pays the remaining $2500.
If you fail to pay your deductibles, then that can extend the insurance claim process.
Getting Help From a Personal Injury Attorney
Dealing with insurance companies can sometimes be an ordeal, especially if you are trying to heal from an accident. This is where an experienced personal injury attorney can help you. At 801-INJURED, we deal with the insurance companies and handle your insurance claim—and we make sure that you get proper and fair compensation for your injuries.
If you or a loved one have been in an accident, please reach out to 801-INJURED today. We’d be happy to speak to you—at no cost—to evaluate your claim and help guide you through the next steps.
