Why Insurance Companies Usually Benefit from Delays in the Legal Process

When car crash victims feel like the insurance company is delaying the legal process, it is probably not their imagination. Car insurance companies routinely try to delay the legal process because it may benefit them.

There are many tactics insurance companies may employ to try to delay the legal process. Our experienced attorneys also discuss why delays typically benefit the insurance company.

If you were injured in a crash and want to seek compensation, or you have had a hard time dealing with the insurance company, our attorneys are ready to help. Contact us today to set up your free legal consultation. Our firm operates on contingency, so there are no upfront fees with our services.

How Car Insurance Companies Could Delay the Process

There are many ways car insurance companies could delay the legal process. For example, they may take an unreasonably long time to respond to your phone calls or emails. Other delay tactics may include:

• Taking an unreasonably long time to investigate a crash
• Taking an unreasonably long time to respond to a claim/demand letter
• Misrepresenting an insurance policy or aspects of a case, making the process more contentious
• Asking you to fill out an unreasonable number of documents and claiming they have not received the completed documents when you emailed or faxed them
• Taking an unreasonable amount of time to review documents you submit
• Claiming documents got lost
• Requesting more time to review your claim without giving you a good reason
• Asking for information that is not needed or that has already been provided
• Disputing liability for the crash, even though the evidence seems clear
• Disputing the severity of your injuries and/or asking you to go through an independent medical exam
• Denying your claim without giving you a clear reason why

There are also delaying tactics the insurance company may employ if your lawyer files a lawsuit. For example, during the discovery process they may send you hundreds of thousands of documents. They know it will take your lawyer a significant amount of time to sort through these documents.

Insurance companies may file a variety of motions simply to delay the process. They may file a motion to dismiss, even if they do not think there is a good chance the motion will be granted. Unfortunately, your lawyer may need to redraft the complaint in response to this motion.

Insurance companies may file a motion for a change of forum or motions to exclude evidence. They may also file motions to impose restrictions on the case, hoping to delay the process.

Why These Delays Often Benefit Insurers

It can be easy to forget that insurance companies are businesses, which means they need to make money to continue operating. Insurance companies make money by taking in more in insurance premium payments than they pay out in claims.

Many people may not know insurance companies invest the money they receive to pay premiums. Insurance companies want to hold onto the money they invest for as long as they can, because that way it will earn more interest. In fact, a significant portion of insurance company profits come from interest on savings and returns on investments.

In short, the longer insurance companies can avoid paying a claim by delaying the legal process, the more money they could make.

Another reason insurance companies want to delay is that it may make the victim more likely to accept a lowball settlement offer. Injury victims are often out of work for a time, so they have less money coming in, which makes it harder to pay their bills. Delays can make victims anxious, and they may start thinking the insurance company’s first offer is all they are going to get.

Insurance companies are hoping to give the victim and his or her Baltimore vehicle accident attorney less time to file a lawsuit before the statute of limitations runs out. However, if you hire an experienced attorney, he or she should be prepared to file a lawsuit before time runs out, no matter how the insurance company tries to delay the legal process.

Insurers may want more time to try to find information to use against victims. For example, they may scour the internet and your social media profiles to find something they can use to attack your credibility. They may be holding out hope their investigation of the crash will yield information that casts doubt on liability or the severity of your injuries.

FAQs About Insurance Delays in Maryland Personal Injury Claims

Why do insurance companies delay personal injury claims?

Insurance companies may delay claims to reduce pressure on their reserves, weaken the injured person’s negotiating position, or encourage a lower settlement. Delay can affect liability disputes, medical documentation, witness availability, and the injured person’s ability to prove the full value of damages.

Can insurance delays hurt my personal injury case?

Yes, delays can hurt a personal injury case if evidence is lost, medical treatment is interrupted, witnesses become harder to reach, or deadlines are missed. The Law Offices of Peter T. Nicholl can help keep the claim moving while preserving evidence and documenting damages.

What should I do if the insurance company is not responding?

You should document every communication, keep copies of letters and emails, continue medical treatment, and avoid accepting a rushed settlement out of frustration. Insurance delays may affect the legal process, but they do not remove the insurer’s obligation to evaluate liability and damages fairly.

Can an insurer use delays to pressure me into settling?

Yes, an insurer may use delays to create financial pressure and make a lower settlement offer seem more acceptable. The legal issue is whether the offer reflects the evidence, including fault, medical treatment, lost wages, pain, and any long-term injury impact.

How can I prove an insurance company delayed my claim?

You can help prove delay by keeping claim letters, emails, call logs, adjuster notes, document requests, medical submissions, and settlement communications. The Law Offices of Peter T. Nicholl can review the claim history to identify whether delay tactics affected the handling of your injury claim.

What deadlines apply if the insurance company keeps delaying?

Legal filing deadlines can still apply even if the insurance company is delaying the claim. In Maryland personal injury cases, missing a deadline can put the claim at risk, so it is important to track dates carefully and take action before time runs out.

Should I accept a settlement after a long insurance delay?

You should not accept a settlement only because the claim has been delayed. A settlement should be evaluated against medical expenses, future care, lost income, pain, permanent limitations, and liability evidence, not just the insurer’s timing or pressure.

How does The Law Offices of Peter T. Nicholl handle delayed insurance claims?

The Law Offices of Peter T. Nicholl can evaluate the insurer’s conduct, organize evidence, calculate damages, respond to low offers, and move the claim toward resolution. Delayed claims often require a clear record of liability, treatment, communication history, and the full impact of the injury.

Call Today to Talk About Seeking Injury Compensation

Did you know crash victims who work with an attorney often receive more compensation than those who do not work with an attorney?

At The Law Offices of Peter T. Nicholl, there are also no upfront fees with our services and no fees while we work on your claim. There is no financial risk with our services because we do not collect our fees unless you receive compensation.

When the insurance company delays the legal process, makes a lowball offer, or is otherwise difficult to work with, you need a licensed attorney’s help.

Licensed. Local. Lawyers. Contact us today: 410-401-9979.

Related Resources

• What to Do When an Insurance Company Refuses to Settle
• Why the First Insurance Settlement Offer May Be Too Low
• Will Your Maryland Injury Case Settle or Go to Court?