How long does an insurance company have to investigate a claim? An insurance company generally has 30 days to accept, deny, or settle a claim. In complex cases, they may be allowed to have more time for their investigation.
A Las Vegas personal injury lawyer from H&P Law, who has experience relating to the type of claim you have filed, can determine how long your insurer has to decide whether to approve or reject it.
How Long Does an Insurance Company Have to Investigate a Claim in Nevada?
In terms of how long an insurer has to investigate a claim in Nevada, the window is typically 30 days from the date of notification under Nev. Admin. Code § 686A.670. For example, you are involved in an auto crash, and your Las Vegas car accident lawyer informs your insurance provider about the collision. They have 20 working days to acknowledge that they received your auto accident claim and ask for any additional documentation they need from you. The insurance company must then finish completing its investigation within 30 days from the date you submitted your initial claim.
Just because an insurance company has 30 days to investigate a claim does not mean you will get a decision on it within this period. Your insurance carrier must inform you if it has not completed its investigation of your claim within 30 days of being notified about it. It must explain why it needs more time and continue to provide updates every 30 days until completion. Typically, these extensions for the insurance company are allowed in cases that are complex.
The legal team at H&P Law can help with the entirety of the legal process for your claim.
How Long Does an Insurance Company Have to Investigate a Claim If Someone Else Is Liable?
The time frame for how long an insurance company has to investigate if someone else is liable for your losses is the same as in other insurance claims. However, disputed liability may make the investigation more complicated and lead to an extension for the insurer’s investigation.
Generally, both your insurer and the at-fault party’s insurance company will examine the facts of an incident in their own investigations. If a party is found to be responsible, their insurer should cover your losses. Unfortunately, an at-fault party’s insurance company could commit time and resources to dispute your claim.
Your personal injury lawyer can provide insights into how an insurance company determines when a car is totaled and other topics relating to your claim. They can help you prove that someone else is liable for your losses and that this individual or their insurer should cover them. As a result, your attorney can position you to recover financially from an accident and injuries.
Tips to Help You with Your Insurance Claim
Las Vegas personal injury attorney from H&P Law can guide you through the claims process. Your lawyer may share tips to help you speed up this process, including:
Submit the Required Documentation to Your Insurer Right Away
The Nevada statute of limitations is two years if you are requesting compensation through a personal injury lawsuit. Your lawyer can help you complete claim documentation. They can help you file the necessary documents before the legal deadline for your case.
Gather Evidence
Medical records, witness statements, video footage of the accident, and other proof strengthen your claim. If you have an abundance of evidence, it becomes difficult for an insurance company to contest your compensation request. Your lawyer can help you collect proof and share it with your insurance carrier.
Follow Through With Your Medical Treatment
You may be worried about expensive medical bills while waiting to see if you can recover compensation. Despite this, it is vital not to stop or delay your medical treatment. Insurers may use a delay in treatment as evidence that you were not as seriously injured as you claimed.
Keep Track of Ongoing Losses and Expenses
While the case is being investigated, ensure that you keep track of any out-of-pocket expenses you take on. These can include medical bills, repair costs for a damaged vehicle, lost wages from missing work, lost work benefits, and paying for mobility aids or other assistive devices.
Cooperate with an Insurance Adjuster
An insurance company can assign an adjuster to investigate your losses. Let your lawyer communicate with an adjuster on your behalf. Your attorney can help you give an adjuster the information they need to evaluate your claim and confirm its validity.
Never give a recorded interview or sign anything before discussing it with your lawyer.
Follow Up With an Insurance Company Regularly
Your lawyer can reach out to your insurer and get information about your claim’s status. They understand your insurer has a limited window for investigating your claim. Your attorney remains persistent and does everything in their power to keep your claim on track.
Avoid Posting on Social Media During the Investigation
It’s tempting to vent about an investigation or share your progress on social media. However, doing so can negatively impact your case. The insurer may use any public social media posts.
File a Complaint
You have the right to submit a complaint to the Nevada Division of Insurance if an insurance company continues to delay its claim investigation. This can be a viable option if your investigation goes on for months. Your attorney can explain how to file a complaint and what can happen if you do.
In addition, you have the option to sue an insurance company if you believe the company is acting in “bad faith” during the claims process. Your lawyer can help you determine if a bad faith insurance claim is worth the effort. If you decide to sue an insurance carrier, your attorney can serve as your legal representative and advocate throughout your litigation.
What Other Evidence Can Help Prove Fault in an Investigation?
Depending on the type of accident being investigated, there can be a wide range of helpful evidence. For example, in car accident cases where a commercial vehicle is involved, black box data may be essential to proving fault. In a slip and fall accident, witness testimony may play a key role.
Other common types of evidence used to prove negligence include:
- Toxicology reports.
- Cell phone logs.
- Traffic camera footage.
- Tire skid marks.
- Accident reconstruction.
- Photos of debris in the road.
- Evidence of speed limit signs having been posted.
Your lawyer will use this evidence to help build a compelling case that someone else was at fault.
Get Legal Help as You Go Through the Insurance Claims Process
The H&P Law team understands just how long it can take for an insurance company to investigate your claim. We can help you address challenges at each stage of this process.
We work on contingency fees, so there are no upfront costs for our legal services. Schedule a free consultation with us.
