Have you recently been thinking, “Is the insurance company delaying my car accident claim by asking for more information?” Insurance companies sometimes request additional information to strategically delay car accident claims. The tactic is aimed at avoiding paying accident victims what they’re rightfully owed. Recognizing delay tactics early is essential to navigating the car accident claims process more effectively and securing fair and timely compensation.
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If you suspect an insurer is using delay tactics in Chicago, contact the car accident lawyers at Ankin Law by dialing 312-600-0000 for a free case evaluation.
Is the Insurance Company Delaying My Car Accident Claim by Asking for More Information?
Insurance companies are allowed to ask for more information relevant to your car accident claim. However, when an insurance company continuously requests more information, even after you’ve submitted what was initially asked for, the insurer may be deliberately delaying your car accident claim. The company may be engaging in acts of insurance bad faith under Illinois law. Insurance companies may use bad faith practices to delay claims despite both federal and Illinois laws prohibiting such practices.
If you’ve found yourself wondering “Is the insurance company delaying my car accident claim?” in Chicago, you’re not alone. The Illinois Department of Insurance received 3,644 complaints for auto insurance coverage in 2024. Red flags that may indicate an insurance company is delaying a car accident claim by asking for more information include an insurance company requesting documents one by one, asking for information you already provided, or requesting more documentation than necessary.
Piecemeal Requests
One tactic an insurance company may use is asking for documents one at a time. The insurer may ask you for one piece of documentation, then later on inform you they need another, dragging out the evidence-gathering process by several weeks or months.
Repetitive Requests
Insurers can request documents that you have already provided multiple times. They may claim they misplaced or never received the submitted documents. Every new request for the same documents extends the claims process.
Requesting Irrelevant Information
Insurance companies can request excessive documentation that isn’t necessary to process your claim. Trying to get and submit the additional paperwork could lead to delays. For example, an insurance adjuster could allege your injuries could’ve resulted from a pre-existing condition and require you to provide old medical records. This could delay your claim by months as you try to get years of records from clinics and hospitals.
Bad faith delays are part of the reason working with a personal injury lawyer when navigating the car accident claims process is recommended. An experienced lawyer will recognize even the most subtle delay tactics immediately and address them proactively to keep the claims process moving forward. Many times, simply having a car accident lawyer on your side is enough to get insurers to take your claim seriously and discourage them from engaging in unreasonable delays, as they know their tactics are unlikely to work.
Why Do Insurance Companies Ask for More Information After a Car Accident?
Insurance companies may legitimately ask for more information after a car accident as standard procedure to enable them to verify liability, assess your damages, and complete their investigations before paying claims. However, they may also ask for more information to intentionally delay the claims process to protect their bottom line. In such instances, they delay to frustrate you into dropping the claim, accepting a lower settlement, or to push your claim closer to the applicable statute of limitations.
Standard Procedure
Not every car accident claim information request is a red flag. Insurance companies require documents like medical records, police reports, photos of the damaged vehicle, repair estimates, and proof of lost wages to process your claim. They may require additional information to complete reasonable investigations and accurate processing of your claim. Requests for more information may also stem from your submitting incomplete or incorrect information.
Getting You to Give Up
An insurance company can ask you to send documents multiple times to frustrate you into giving up on pursuing your claim. When you give up and walk away, the company avoids paying the compensation to which you were entitled.
Pressuring You Into Accepting Less Money
Insurers may repeatedly ask for the same documents or more paperwork than necessary to get you to accept a low settlement offer when they make one due to frustration or financial necessity. The companies know that financial pressure increases over time, increasing your likelihood of accepting any settlement offered.
Running Down the Statute of Limitations Clock
Insurance companies may constantly ask for additional documents to run out the statute of limitations clock, which is generally two years from the car accident date in Chicago and throughout Illinois. Once this legal deadline passes before your claim is resolved, you’ll lose your right to file a lawsuit. At that point, the insurance company can’t be compelled to pay you compensation.
How Long Can an Insurance Company Delay a Car Accident Claim?
Illinois has laws governing how insurance companies should handle claims. When you make a request, an insurer must provide the necessary forms for your car accident claim within 15 working days of the request. If your claim is valid, the insurance company must start prompt investigations and communicate with you within 21 working days.
If your claim is denied, an insurer must provide you with a reasonable written explanation within 30 days of the claim denial. If the company agrees to a settlement and the amount is not in dispute, it should issue the payment within 30 days of the approval.
If delays are necessary, the insurer should provide a written explanation.
Fortunately, you don’t have to sit back and accept unfair treatment when an insurer’s actions push you into questioning, “Is the insurance company delaying my car accident claim?” Several options exist when an insurer delays or denies your claim unreasonably. You can file a complaint with the IDOI. You can also file a lawsuit against an insurance company that acts in bad faith with the help of a Chicago bad faith insurance lawyer.
A local lawyer will have in-depth knowledge of both federal and Illinois insurance regulations. He or she can take control of all communications with the company and apply legal pressure to fast-track your claim. Your lawyer can file a lawsuit if the insurance company commits fraud or refuses to settle fairly.
Ankin Law has been helping car accident victims in Chicago stand up to powerful insurance companies to secure justice and fair compensation since 1940. We have a long track record of success, having won some of the most complex cases in Illinois and recovered large awards, including seven-figure awards. Contact Ankin Law today to schedule your free consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Delayed Car Accident Claims
Is Asking for More Information a Common Insurance Delay Tactic?
Asking for more information is a common insurance delay tactic. Insurers can use the tactic to wear you down until you give up on pursuing your car accident claim or settle for less compensation, or to push the claim past the applicable statute of limitations.
How Long Should It Take to Hear Back After Submitting Requested Documents?
In Illinois, insurance companies must acknowledge your claim and provide the necessary forms for your claim within 15 working days. There’s no specific number of days you’re supposed to hear back after submitting any additional requested documents. However, about 30 to 60 days is considered a reasonable period to expect some kind of response from the insurance company. For property damage claims, an insurance company must provide a written explanation of the delay if the claim remains unresolved after 60 days.
When Should I Contact a Car Accident Attorney About Claim Delays?
You should contact a car accident attorney if you experience excessive delays or suspect the insurance company is acting in bad faith. An attorney can take control of communication with an insurer, fast-track a stalled car accident claim, and hold the insurance company accountable if it unfairly delays or denies your claim.
