Ghosting is bad enough in dating, but it’s life-altering when it comes to your insurance company. If it seems like your insurance company is dragging its feet with your personal injury claim, they may be trying to deliberately delay the settlement until you eventually wear down enough and take a lowball offer just to get it over with. Stonewalling, like any toxic relationship tactic, can be hard to spot and frustrating to deal with. Luckily, with the help of an experienced California personal injury attorney, you can expedite the process and get the compensation you deserve. 

Stonewalling Tactics Insurance Companies Use

Here are some stonewalling tactics insurance companies use on our clients all the time:



• Radio silence: This is the most common and most annoying stonewalling technique. When the adjuster just goes silent and stops responding to any emails, phone calls, or letters, it can make you feel lost and unsure of what to do.
• Saying they don’t have the authority to settle for the amount you requested: Insurance adjusters typically need to be authorized by a supervisor or higher-up to settle a claim, but if your adjuster repeatedly tells you they don’t have the authority, they’ve probably already made the decision to stonewall you.
• Telling you they’re still reviewing your claim: If your adjuster tells you your claim is “in committee,” “waiting for the approval of a supervisor,” or is “under review by the home office,” they’re trying to keep you waiting by convincing you the wheels are in motion. When the “review process” takes ages, they are likely intentionally delaying the case.
• Requiring more proof: After you submit all necessary documents - medical bills, evidence of lost wages, etc. - but the adjuster requires further proof without being clear why, then they’re playing a waiting game.
• Moving claim files from one adjuster to another: It’s possible that your insurance company has a high turnover rate in their claims adjuster departments, but if you’re always talking with a new claims adjuster every time you call, they may be stonewalling you.
• Leveraging one claim against another: If you have a property damage claim along with a claim for your injuries, for example, certain adjusters may tell you they can’t settle the property damage claim until you also settle your injury claim. They usually will force you to make the decision immediately, and for lower than appropriate. 

What If My Insurance Company Stonewalls Me?

If you experience one or more of these tactics from your insurer, here’s what you can do:

• Wait and let the negotiations play out a little longer: If you’re not in a rush, you can let things play out on their schedule and see what happens. Just make sure you don’t let things drag out longer than the statute of limitations on filing a lawsuit.
• Sending the adjuster a demand letter: This may speed things up, but you still need to keep the statute of limitations in mind.
• You can get an experienced personal injury lawyer to fight for you: This is likely your best option. Insurance companies rarely settle up on their own when they know the person doesn’t have a lawyer. 

Contact Us Today

Don’t let insurance companies take advantage of you during trying times. Having an experienced personal injury lawyer on your side will help you get the compensation you are legally entitled to - after all, that’s why you’ve been faithfully paying your premiums. Call the Law Office of Ball & Yorke to consult with a top California personal injury attorney today.