How Long Does It Take State Farm To Settle Claims in Lakewood?
State Farm is a large insurance company that handles car accident, truck accident, and motorcycle accident injury claims, to name just a few examples. It also handles certain other types of personal injury claims, such as homeowners’ insurance claims.
It’s impossible to determine how long your State Farm claim will take to resolve in advance, but it is possible to identify some factors relevant to claim resolution. Although the average claim might take a few months to resolve, every claim is different.
State Farm’s General Claims Process
State Farm’s general claims process works as follows:
- Initial report: You’ll initially report your accident and injuries to State Farm. You can do this online, through a mobile app, or by calling State Farm’s 24/7 claims hotline (800-SF-Claim (800-732-5246)).
- Investigation and evaluation: State Farm will assign a claims adjuster to investigate your claim, gather evidence, interview witnesses, and evaluate your injuries and damages.
- Settlement offer or denial: Based on the claims adjustor’s investigation, State Farm may issue a settlement offer, or they might deny your claim. If they do issue a settlement offer, it will probably be for an amount far less than the true amount your claim is worth. That’s okay, as you can always issue a counteroffer.
- Negotiation: Your lawyer can negotiate with State Farm on your behalf. This approach will probably work far better than trying to negotiate your claim on your own.
- Litigation (if necessary): In some cases, if negotiations fail, your lawyer may recommend filing a lawsuit against State Farm.
Not all claims will follow these steps exactly, as each involves unique facts and circumstances.
Negotiating a Settlement
The majority of personal injury claims begin and end at the settlement table. This is no less true for State Farm than it is with other insurance companies. Even if you file a lawsuit, the odds are good that you will end up settling before trial. This preference for settlement typically works to the advantage of both parties. Remember, however, that your lawyer cannot agree to a binding settlement of your claim without your permission.
So why should you hire a lawyer? You’ll need a credible threat of winning a lawsuit to motivate State Farm to negotiate with you. Otherwise, you’ll never get past the ‘lowball offer’ stage. Without a lawyer, your chances of winning a lawsuit are slim. Your bargaining power will reflect this reality even in settlement negotiations.
Complications That Might Impede the Swift Resolution of Your Claim
Certain complications in your case can lengthen the time it takes to resolve your claim. Following are some examples:
- Liability is in dispute: It’s impossible to pin down how much your claim is worth, if anything, until you resolve any disputes about liability.
- Severe or permanent injuries: Claims involving future medical treatment or long-term rehabilitation often take longer to settle due to the speculation involved in determining fair compensation. You might need an expert.
- Multiple parties involved: Accidents with multiple vehicles or defendants can complicate your claim.
- Uninsured/Underinsured motorist claims: If the at-fault driver lacks sufficient insurance, you might need to find a third party to bear liability. This can complicate your claim.
- Lack of cooperation from witnesses or other parties: If key witnesses are difficult to locate or if they refuse to cooperate, your claim might take longer to resolve.
There are hundreds of other complicating factors that might delay the resolution of your State Farm claim. The foregoing list offers only a few examples.
A Personal Injury Lawyer Can Probably Get You a Better Deal
Personal injury lawyers don’t charge by the ‘billable hour.’ Instead, their compensation is based on the contingency fee system. That means you only pay legal fees if you win. Your legal fees will equal a certain percentage of whatever amount you win.
An experienced personal injury lawyer might be able to multiply the value of any settlement you receive from State Farm. They should also be able to expedite the claims process without settling for less than the amount of compensation you deserve.
Contact Our Personal Injury Law Firm For Help Today
If you’ve been injured in Lakewood, CO, and need legal help, contact an experienced Personal Injury Lawyer at Matos Personal Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation.
Matos Personal Injury Lawyers – Lakewood Office
550 S Wadsworth Blvd, Suite 300, Lakewood, CO 80226
(720) 912-7274