March 5, 2025 | Car Accidents
It can be torturous to wait for the insurance claim after getting into a car accident. You are probably sitting on pins and needles, wondering if State Farm will accept your claim in full, in part, or even at all. If the accident is serious, you may be unable to drive.
Dealing with insurance after a car accident can be a headache. However, understanding State Farm’s claim process and timeline can help you find peace while waiting. In general, your claim can take anywhere from days to weeks to settle.
State Farm Claim Process
State Farm has a routine claim process in Columbia, SC. They are obligated to follow South Carolina law to promptly settle claims.
After getting into an accident, you will call State Farm to file your claim. You may have to speak
with an intake agent at first and tell them what happened.
State Farm will then assign your claim to an insurance adjuster. The adjuster may call you back to get a recorded statement of what happened and to collect any evidence. The evidence could include photographs, witness contact information, and repair estimates.
Once you make a claim, State Farm will call the insurance policyholder and get their statement. If the policyholder accepts liability, then your claim will likely be resolved quickly. If they deny liability, then it will take longer to process the claim.
An insurance adjustor may also collect and review their evidence in addition to reviewing the evidence provided by both parties. This can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. After looking at all the evidence, they will determine liability and decide whether or not to accept or deny the claim.
If they accept the claim, they will contact you and inform you of the acceptance and the proposed settlement. It could be a lump sum of money or an agreement to pay for repairs. If they deny the claim, you will need to file a lawsuit to get damages.
How To Speed Up Your State Farm Claim
Unfortunately, insurance claims do take time. There’s no way to magically resolve your claim.
The best way to speed up your State Farm claim is to be responsive. Insurance adjusters are busy, and you want to ensure you are available if they try to contact you. They might be looking for additional information, which could delay the process if you aren’t available.
Furthermore, you should be careful to give insurance all of the relevant information in your statement. If you change your story along the way, this could delay the process.
A Columbia personal injury attorney can help you file a State Farm claim so that you have the best chance of it getting quickly resolved.
Reasons Your Claim Is Taking So Long
Some of the most common reasons for a claim taking so long to settle are:
- Parties are denying liability.
- Multiple parties are involved in the crash.
- There is a lot of evidence to sift through.
- The case requires a significant investigation.
- It is a monetarily significant claim.
- You are receiving ongoing medical treatment.
If your claim is taking too long to settle, it is important to consult with a personal injury attorney who can help guide you through the process.
Bad Faith Claims
In some cases, an insurance claim can take a long time if State Farm is acting in bad faith. That means that they are intentionally or negligently delaying the resolution of your claim. They must resolve your claim within a reasonable period. This period may be longer or shorter depending on the complexity and type of case.
If an insurance company acts in bad faith, you may incur even more damages. For example, your injury could become worse while waiting for medical treatment, or you might incur increased transportation costs. You could have grounds for a lawsuit against State Farm directly.
Bad faith claims are difficult to handle. However, a Columbia personal injury lawyer can help you fight your case after getting unfairly strung along by an insurance carrier.
A Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help With a State Farm Claim
Insurance claims can be stressful to navigate on your own in the aftermath of an accident. However, you don’t have to deal with the claims process alone. If you were injured in an accident and need to file a claim with State Farm, an experienced Columbia personal injury lawyer can help.
Contact a South Carolina Car Accident Lawyer at Jeffcoat Injury and Car Accident Lawyers Today
For more information, contact the car accident law firm of Jeffcoat Injury and Car Accident Lawyers to schedule a free initial consultation. We have five convenient locations in South Carolina: Columbia, Lexington, Orangeburg, and Blythewood.
Jeffcoat Injury and Car Accident Lawyers – Columbia, SC
1333 Main St #510,
Columbia, SC 29201
(803) 200-2000
Our firm is located near you. We have an office in Columbia, SC.
Find us with our GeoCoordinates: 34.0036663,-81.0346429
Jeffcoat Injury and Car Accident Lawyers – Lexington, SC
5465 Sunset Blvd Suite B,
Lexington, SC 29072
(803) 721-4241
Our firm is located near you. We have an office in Lexington, SC.
Find us with our GeoCoordinates: 33.9981412,-81.2202483
Jeffcoat Injury and Car Accident Lawyers – Orangeburg, SC
161 Elliott St SE Suite B,
Orangeburg, SC 29115
(803) 884-2053
Our firm is located near you. We have an office in Orangeburg, SC.
Find us with our GeoCoordinates: 33.4913915,-80.8608485
Jeffcoat Injury and Car Accident Lawyers – Blythewood, SC
749-2 University Village Dr,
Blythewood, SC 29016
(803) 866-5190
Our firm is located near you. We have an office in Blythewood, SC.
Find us with our GeoCoordinates: 34.2165616,-80.9866654
Jeffcoat Injury and Car Accident Lawyers – Columbiana Dr
380 Columbiana Dr
Columbia, SC 29212
(803) 200-2000
Our firm is located near you. We have a secondary office in Columbia, SC.
Find us with our GeoCoordinates: 34.0857948,-81.1613165
