Anderson Injury Lawyers | March 1, 2024 | Personal Injury
State Farm is one of the largest insurance companies in the United States. Therefore, if you are involved in a car accident or suffer an injury in Dallas, you may have to deal with the State Farm Claims Office.
It’s important to remember that the timeline to settle an insurance claim varies depending on the facts in the case. In some situations, State Farm may settle a claim in a few weeks or months. In other cases, reaching a reasonable settlement could take much longer.
Factors That Can Impact the Settlement Process for State Farm Claims in Dallas, TX
Various factors impact how long it takes State Farm to settle claims. The review process could take just a few weeks for minor accidents and injuries. However, there is no guarantee that an insurance company will promptly process a claim even if there is minor damage and no dispute regarding fault.
Factors that could lengthen the processing time for a State Farm claim in Dallas include:
- The severity of your injuries and the duration of your recovery
- The time it takes you to reach maximum medical improvement
- The need for ongoing medical treatment or mental health counseling
- Whether multiple parties share liability for the claim
- The amount of evidence submitted with the claim
- Disputes regarding how the accident occurred
- The policy limits and types of coverage the policyholder purchased
If State Farm intentionally delays the claims process, it might be acting in bad faith. If so, you should contact a Dallas personal injury lawyer to discuss your legal options.
Signs an Insurance Company Is Acting in Bad Faith While Processing a Claim
State Farm and other insurance providers are not interested in a victim’s best interests when they process a claim. The companies are more interested in protecting themselves from liability for economic and non-economic damages. Therefore, they may use various tactics to undervalue or deny claims.
In some situations, insurance companies cross the line from protecting their interests to acting in bad faith.
Examples of ways an insurance company might act in bad faith include, but are not limited to:
- Failing to acknowledge a claim when it is filed
- Failing to investigate a claim to determine liability
- Causing unnecessary delays in the claims process
- Failing to notify the accident victim of damages after inspecting the vehicle
- Misrepresenting the law or the terms of an insurance policy
- Advising an accident victim not to seek legal advice or help with a claim
- Refusing to make a timely, fair settlement offer
- Using false allegations of comparative fault to scare a victim into accepting an unfair settlement offer
- Pressuring a claimant to accept an unreasonably low settlement offer
If an insurance company acts in bad faith while processing a claim, it can be held liable for damages caused by its actions. You may have a separate action against the company. Talk with a Dallas bad-faith insurance lawyer about your legal options.
How Can I Speed Up a State Farm Claim in Dallas, TX?
Unfortunately, State Farm will move at its own pace when processing claims.
However, there are steps you can take to avoid unnecessary delays in the claims process, including:
- File the insurance claim promptly after the car accident
- Provide all required information
- Be cooperative when scheduling an inspection of your vehicle
- Ask the insurance adjuster if there is anything you need to do to expedite the review process
- Promptly respond to requests for additional information
- Do not exaggerate the details of your injuries or damages
- Follow your doctor’s treatment plan
- Keep track of all out-of-pocket expenses and collect documentation proving the losses
It is important to remember that you are dealing with an insurance company that wants to limit how much it must pay to settle your claim. Therefore, agreeing to provide a recorded or written statement without legal counsel is unwise. Signing a settlement agreement before you speak with an attorney is also not recommended.
Generally, victims dealing with State Farm benefit from discussing their accident claim with an experienced Dallas personal injury attorney during a free consultation. The more information you have about your legal rights and options, the better your chance of obtaining a fair settlement from State Farm.
Contact Our Personal Injury Law Firm in Texas
If you’ve been injured in an accident in Fort Worth or Dallas and need legal help, contact our personal injury lawyers at Anderson Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation. We proudly serve Tarrant County, Dallas County, and throughout Texas.
Anderson Injury Lawyers – Fort Worth Office
1310 W El Paso St, Fort Worth, TX 76102
(817) 294-1900
Anderson Injury Lawyers – Fort Worth Office (Secondary)
6618 Fossil Bluff Dr # 108, Fort Worth, TX 76137
(817) 631-4113
Anderson Injury Lawyers – Dallas Office
408 W Eighth St Suite 202, Dallas, TX 75208
(214) 327-8000
Anderson Injury Lawyers – Dallas Office (Secondary)
6301 Gaston Ave suite 610, Dallas, TX 75214
(469) 457-4711
