The time that an insurance company has to settle a claim depends on many factors. Most states have laws and guidelines in place to ensure that insurance companies process claims within a reasonable amount of time. This window varies widely depending on the nature of the claim, the amount of complexity involved in the incident, and the presence of other parties involved in the incident. Some states have strict guidelines in place that put a definite limit on the amount of time that an insurance company has to settle a claim.
Your insurance policy may also dictate the amount of time it takes to process a claim. Some insurance policies clearly state their time limits on claims processing. This is something to be mindful of when you are shopping around for the right insurance policy. Most insurance companies seek to settle their claims within a reasonable period of time, but again, it all depends on the alignment of various factors that shift on a case-to-case basis.
Examining Negligence and Liability During the Claims Process
Throughout the process of negotiating and settling a claim, lawyers, insurance companies, and law enforcement entities will all examine the subject of liability. The claims process can take quite a long time if there is a lot of evidence for these parties to process. Any piece of evidence can serve to establish a party as liable for an accident and its subsequent damages. As the Ohio Department of Insurance states, the legal issue of negligence has no magic formula for dividing the responsibility of an accident. It will take a judge and jury to make conclusions that are legally binding when negligence is disputed.
To establish a liable party, legal teams will often collect various forms of evidence such as:
- Eyewitness reports
- Photo and video evidence
- Police reports
- Cell phone records
- Information gathered in interviews
Insurance companies will collect a verbal statement from all parties involved in an accident. Sometimes these statement interviews are conducted over the phone, while in other cases, they may be performed in person. Insurance companies examine every detail of an incident to assist them in establishing liability and settling a claim.
How an Attorney Can Help Get Your Claim Settled
If you were involved in a truck accident, and you are seeking a claim settlement, contacting legal counsel can provide you with some assistance. A truck accident lawyer will take care of all communications and negotiations with other parties on your behalf. This means that you will not have to confront an insurance agent or the party who may have been responsible for your personal injuries, pain, and suffering. Insurance companies often make use of in-depth negotiating tactics to deny claims or offer only minimal settlement amounts to victims. When you have a lawyer by your side, they will fight to pursue any forms of compensation that you may be owed after a trucking accident.
Lawyers can also examine state, federal, and local laws that may apply to your situation. According to the statute of limitations outlined in Ohio Revised Code (ORC) §2305.10 (A), you have up to two years after sustaining a personal injury in an accident to take legal action. If you have any plans to work alongside legal counsel after a truck crash, then it is important to remember that state-specific laws such as these may come into play depending on your circumstances. When you are having trouble getting answers from an insurance company, a lawyer for truck accidents can step in to take over all correspondence and negotiations on your behalf.
Contact Our Law Firm Today to Learn More About Settling Your Claim
If you are wondering how long an insurance company has to settle a claim, then you are probably feeling frustrated at your lack of progress for a settlement. An accident with a commercial truck can leave you confused, hurt, and angry. This is a normal reaction. However, you do not have to settle for a stalled claim. A lawyer who focuses on personal injuries and truck accidents can stand by your side to obtain answers for you. At the Fitch Law Firm LLC, our team of personal injury attorneys can help you get the information you are looking for. We can also fight for justice and pursue any forms of financial compensation to which you may be entitled to following the accident. Call us today at (614) 545-3930 to speak to a member of our legal team for a free case review.