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Why Do Insurance Companies Delay Paying Valid Claims?

In many cases, insurance companies are hoping you will give up or accept less than you deserve. Some are also waiting to see if you miss an important deadline that lets them deny payment altogether. These tactics can be frustrating when you are also dealing with pain.

Your Boulder car accident lawyer with Purvis Thomson, LLC can step in once delays start putting pressure on your daily life. Let us walk you through some of the most common reasons these payment stalls happen and what you can do in response.

Common Delay Tactics Used by Insurance Companies

Insurance companies are businesses first. Delaying a payout can help them protect profits while putting pressure on you to settle. Some stall by stretching out communication, while others use paperwork or medical disputes to make you question whether the fight is worth it. These strategies are rarely about missing details. More often, they are designed to exhaust you before a check ever arrives.

Requesting Excessive Documentation

One way insurers drag out the process is by asking for more documents than necessary. They might request medical records you already submitted or forms that do not apply to your case. Some even delay things further by claiming your paperwork is incomplete, then fail to explain what is missing.

Disputing Medical Treatment or Necessity

Another common tactic is challenging the medical care you received after a personal injury. Insurance companies often claim that your treatment was unnecessary or unrelated, even when your doctor clearly disagrees. These disputes delay approval and create doubt, especially when you are trying to recover.

Legal Pressure Points That Can Affect Claim Timing

Insurance companies do not always control the timeline. The Colorado Revised Statutes § 10-3-1115 makes it illegal for them to delay or deny claims without a reasonable basis. This statute gives you more leverage if your claim is being stalled without explanation. When you know your rights under state law, it becomes easier to recognize when the delays have crossed the line.

Legal Deadlines for Payment Responses

State law requires insurance companies to acknowledge a claim within 15 days and make a decision in a timely manner, usually within 60 days. If they continue pushing things back or ignoring your file, those delays might violate the law.

When Delays May Lead to Additional Penalties

If an insurer drags things out without justification, the consequences can go beyond a simple payout. Under Colorado Revised Statutes § 10-3-1116, you may recover double the covered benefit plus legal fees if bad faith is proven.

Why Choose Purvis Thomson, LLC

Insurance delays make everything more stressful when the support you need just is not coming. According to Colorado Revised Statutes § 13-21-102.5, you may be entitled to extra damages in certain cases when delays go too far, and we know how to use that law to strengthen your claim. If you are looking for a Boulder personal injury lawyer who keeps things moving and treats your case like it matters:

  • We have been pushing back on delay tactics in Colorado courtrooms for decades.
  • Our team knows how to apply the laws that protect injured people in real-life situations.
  • You will always know what is happening because we stay in touch and answer your questions directly.
  • We have handled all kinds of cases, from drunk driving accidents to home damage claims after a storm.

Talk to a Boulder Car Accident Lawyer Today

Insurance delays cause real problems. You might be missing paychecks or facing medical bills, and it often feels like no one is giving you any answers.

Your Boulder car accident attorney with Purvis Thomson, LLC can step in to demand timely responses and help you stay in control of your case. When you contact us, we will talk through what has been happening and help you figure out where to go from here.