After a car accident, injured victims can face medical bills, lost pay, and other rising costs as they get back on their feet. Another challenge will usually involve dealing with insurance to cover these costs. If you file a claim with State Farm, you will want to know how the process works and how long it takes State Farm to settle a claim.
Settlement payouts from State Farm can take time after an accident. In fact, it can take several weeks or even months before the insurer might make a fair settlement offer. The scope of your injuries and expenses will rarely be agreed to right from the start. Delays in processing a claim can be due to many reasons. If you believe State Farm wrongfully delayed or denied your claim or acted in bad faith, an experienced personal injury lawyer can help.
How Does State Farm Review an Accident in Georgia?
The insurance company’s review of your accident will include different factors depending on the type of accident and damages.
Factors that affect a State Farm insurance claim can include:
- What caused the accident
- The division of liability between parties
- The evidence involved, including police reports and statements
- The amount of coverage allowed under the policy
- Any ongoing treatment or therapy to address injuries
- Whether the accident victim has achieved maximum medical improvement (if not, the insurer may need to pay additional amounts to address future medical costs).
In some situations, the review process can be short and simple. In other cases, complications can arise and drag out the timeline for your claim.
What if State Farm Acts in Bad Faith?
Delays or denials of claims can happen for any number of reasons. One of those reasons is bad faith by the insurance company. Acting in bad faith by an insurance company means more than making mistakes – it involves intentional acts or negligence. For example, if an insurance company misrepresents facts and figures to an accident victim as part of a scheme to drop coverage, that could be viewed as bad faith.
If the insurance company acts in bad faith when handling your claim, you could have grounds to take legal action against the insurer.
Contact State Farm Directly
Call once you are able, and be honest and accurate with your information. The State Farm claims phone number is 1-800-732-5246 for vehicle claims, and other information can be found on their website. It helps to carefully review details before calling.
The insurance adjuster will ask questions about the accident and your injuries. Calls to State Farm are recorded, so make sure to keep the facts straight and avoid contradicting yourself.
Don’t misrepresent facts or withhold important information during these calls. If a State Farm adjuster has reason to believe you’ve been dishonest, that might support a decision to delay or deny your claim. Preferably, you will make your call in the presence of an accident lawyer who can help guide you.
Cooperate With the Insurance Company
State Farm will seek your help in analyzing the details of your case. The information you provide will affect your recovery in a settlement and how soon you receive it.
An insurance adjuster might ask to view your medical records when evaluating your claim. While this information is relevant, it is best to consult an attorney before authorizing the release of your medical records to State Farm.
Stay Organized
Keep track of your communications with State Farm and the information you’ve given. Your records will be useful if the insurer later denies your claim. If you take legal action for bad faith by the insurer, your personal file will help support your bad faith claim. Meanwhile, if your trusted personal injury lawyer handles your claim with State Farm, their office will keep detailed records and do most of the work for you.
Contact a Kennesaw Car Accident Lawyer to Negotiate With State Farm
After an accident, you will face many difficult tasks on your road to recovery. Dealing with a State Farm insurance claim on your own does not have to be one of these tasks. Trust an experienced Kennesaw personal injury lawyer to make a strong claim to State Farm and work hard to get the insurance settlement you deserve.
For more information, don’t hesitate to contact our team at Starks Byron, P.C. to schedule a free consultation with a car accident lawyer in Kennesaw, GA today.
We proudly serve Cobb County and its surrounding areas:
Starks Byron, P.C.
1275 Shiloh Rd NW Ste 2710,
Kennesaw, GA 30144
(404) 795 5115
