The following article is provided by Solum Space Law, APC for general information only and should not be taken as legal advice. Every case is unique—if you have questions about protecting your rights after an injury in Southern California, call our office for a free consultation.

If you have been injured in an accident and feel like your insurance claim is going nowhere, you are not imagining it. Delays are a routine part of the personal injury claims process—and they are often intentional.

Understanding why insurers delay claims helps injured individuals make better decisions and avoid unnecessary financial pressure.

Delay Is a Negotiation Tool

Insurance companies operate on risk management and cost containment. Delays allow insurers to:

Hold funds longer
Increase financial pressure on claimants
Encourage early, low-value settlements

Many injured people face mounting medical bills and missed work. Insurers know that time often works in their favor.

Common Delay Tactics Used by Insurers

Some of the most frequent delay strategies include:

Repeated requests for documents already provided
Long response times between communications
Claims that liability is still “under review”
Requests for unnecessary medical authorizations
Reassigning adjusters mid-claim

Each delay may seem minor on its own, but collectively they can stall a claim for months.

How Delays Can Weaken a Claim

As time passes:

Witness memories fade
Physical evidence disappears
Surveillance footage is overwritten
Gaps appear in medical treatment

Insurers later rely on these gaps to argue that injuries were not serious or not accident-related.

Statutes of Limitation Do Not Pause for Delays

In California, most personal injury claims must be filed within two years. Insurance negotiations do not extend this deadline. Waiting too long, especially while assuming the insurer is negotiating in good faith, can permanently bar recovery.

Why Representation Changes the Timeline

Once an attorney is involved, insurers understand that deadlines are tracked and litigation is an option. Claims that stalled for months often begin moving once communications become formal and structured.

Legal involvement does not mean filing a lawsuit immediately; it means controlling the pace and protecting the claim.

The Cost of Accepting Delay as “Normal”

Accepting prolonged delays often leads to:

Reduced settlement leverage
Pressure-driven decisions
Undervalued releases

Understanding that delay is a strategy, not a coincidence, allows injured individuals to respond more strategically.

This blog is attorney advertising. The material below is presented by Solum Space Law, APC for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for tailored legal advice. Cases are fact-specific; if you have questions about the value of your claim, contact us for a complimentary consultation.

Why Insurance Companies Delay Personal Injury Claims and What That Means for You