Whenever insurance adjusters handle car accident claims, they have a responsibility to do so in a timely and ethical manner. Unfortunately, some issues can arise when insurance adjusters put profits over people. One of the biggest issues that can arise is when insurance adjusters wrongfully delay claims. It’s vital to recognize when insurance adjusters can delay a claim, and why they may do so unethically.
When Insurance Adjusters Can Delay Claims
If there is a valid reason for an insurance adjuster to delay your claim, they may do so. However, it has to be for a reasonable action, such as verifying information on a claim. These are some of the reasons that insurance adjusters may delay a claim:
- Inaccuracies on the claim paperwork
- Communication issues between insurance companies and parties
- Delays in receiving information from medical professionals
- Trouble getting ahold of witnesses
Unfortunately, there are times when your claim’s timeline is out of your hands. The more you can provide to insurance adjusters and the more you ensure accuracy, the better it is for your claim.
Why Insurance Adjusters Unethically Delay Claims
When you suffer injuries in a crash, you may experience financial, physical, and emotional hardships. You need compensation quickly, but an insurance adjuster may delay a claim to try and take advantage of your vulnerable situation.
Insurance adjusters hope that if they delay your claim long enough, you’ll accept their settlement offer. Keep in mind, the settlement offer is not always what it seems. It’s often much less than you deserve, so accepting it means insurance companies save money, and you may not get enough to cover your losses.
Before you accept anything, speak with a Mesa car accident lawyer. At Skousen, Gulbrandsen & Patience, PLC, we work to protect our community. If you suffer severe injuries because of someone else’s negligence, know that we’ll be here to provide the tenacious advocacy you need to seek compensation.