How Long Does It Take State Farm to Settle Claims in Northbrook, IL?
The time after a car accident can be stressful and difficult. You may be left trying to recover from your injuries while wondering how you will pay for your medical bills and other expenses. Even when insurance coverage is available, dealing with the insurance company is almost always a battle.
Your main goal is likely to settle your claim as soon as possible so that you can get the compensation you need. However, State Farm could take weeks or even months to pay your claim. Some claims take longer to process than others. However, if State Farm wrongfully delays paying your claim, you could be entitled to take legal action against them.
What Factors Affect the Processing of My Claim?
State Farm will consider many factors when processing your claim and determining its value. For some claims, the process may only take 4 to 6 weeks. This means that you could receive a settlement check in as few as 4 weeks after you start your claim. However, for other victims, they may have to wait months before a settlement is reached.
The insurance company knows that you need a settlement check to pay your outstanding medical bills and other expenses. It is not uncommon for the insurance company to intentionally delay the processing of your claim. This may be done as a tactic to get you to accept a lower settlement amount than what your claim is really worth.
Most insurance adjusters, including those at State Farm, do not want to settle a claim until the victim has reached maximum medical improvement (MMI). Prior to MMI, the victim may still incur additional medical bills and other treatment-related expenses because of their injury.
Some other factors that can add complexity and cause delays in the processing of your claim include:
- Questions of liability or multiple parties sharing liability
- Not submitting sufficient evidence with your claim
- Questions surrounding the facts of the accident or what caused it
- Missing medical records or other documentation
- Higher than average damages
While some State Farm claims are settled and paid within 6 weeks, many victims are left waiting a much longer period of time to get their settlement check.
How Can I Expedite My State Farm Claim in Northbrook, IL?
If you want to get your claim settled as quickly as possible, there are some things you can do to help speed up the process. First, make sure that you are responsive and provide all documentation in a timely manner. If State Farm is waiting on you to provide evidence or documentation, they cannot proceed with processing your claim until they receive it.
Next, you should fully explain your position and provide all supporting documentation when negotiating the value of your claim. Thorough explanations with supporting evidence are going to be taken more seriously. Additionally, you should be honest about your injuries and property damage. Misrepresenting any facts about your case will only add more time to the process.
Finally, talk to an experienced car accident attorney for help. Ideally, you should let your attorney handle all discussions and negotiations with State Farm. Your attorney can help ensure that your claim is taken seriously and processed in a timely manner.
What Can I Do If State Farm Is Delaying My Claim?
Unfortunately, State Farm may sometimes act in bad faith and intentionally delay processing and paying your claim. Under Illinois law, there are many practices can qualify as bad faith, including:
- Refusing to pay a claim without conducting an investigation
- Failing to acknowledge communications about a claim in a reasonably timely manner
- Knowingly misrepresenting facts about the insurance coverage
If you suspect that State Farm is acting in bad faith and delaying your claim, you should talk to an experienced car accident attorney right away. You could be entitled to recover the value of your original claim, attorney’s fees, and punitive damages. Punitive damages would be an additional recovery on top of the economic damages and non-economic damages that were part of your claim.
Knowing your rights and understanding how State Farm claims are processed can help you get your claim settled as quickly as possible. In some cases, you may experience unnecessary delays even when you do everything right. It could be in your best interest to pursue legal action against State Farm to hold them accountable for delaying your settlement.
Contact Our Northbrook Personal Injury Law Firm Today
If you were injured in an accident in Northbrook, IL, and need legal help, contact our Northbrook personal injury lawyers at Kass & Moses Personal Injury Lawyers to schedule a free case review today.
Kass & Moses Personal Injury Lawyers
601 Skokie Blvd Suite 401
Northbrook, IL 60062
(847) 513-9582
