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How Long Do You Have to File an Insurance Claim? Deadlines and Time Limits

Filing deadlines vary by insurer and claim type. Typically, you have 30 days. Check your policy for exact time limits and avoid delays.

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Have you recently been in a car accident or suffered damage to your vehicle due to extreme weather conditions? If so, you might be wondering how long do you have to file an insurance claim. The quick answer is likely 30 days, although mitigating circumstances can play a role. Regardless, early filing is always in your best interest. This guide will help you understand how to file a claim with insurance, time limits for filing, state deadlines for filing a personal injury or property damage claim, mistakes to avoid, and other relevant issues.

Filing an Insurance Claim

You'll need to file an insurance claim in the wake of an accident or weather-related issue. Insurance companies take claims reports, examine the potential cost of repairs, and then let you know what your auto insurance will cover.

Time Limits

Some insurance companies require you to file a report within 30 days, while others simply ask for a prompt filing. You can check your insurance policy to determine a timeline. However, you never want to leave this until the last minute. If you wait too long, your claim may be denied because assessing the damage is too hard.

Statutory Deadlines by State

States vary in their deadlines for filing a personal injury or property damage claim.

StatePersonal Injury ClaimProperty Damage Claim
Alabama2 years2 years
Alaska2 years2 years
Arizona2 years2 years
Arkansas3 years3 years
California2 Years3 years
Colorado3 years3 years
Connecticut2 years2 years
Delaware2 years2 years
Florida4 years4 years
Georgia2 years4 years
Hawaii2 years2 years
Idaho2 years2 years
Illinois2 years5 years
Indiana2 years2 years
Iowa2 years5 years
Kansas2 years2 years
Kentucky2 years2 years
Louisiana1 year1 year
Maine6 years6 years
Maryland3 years3 years
Massachusetts3 years3 years
Michigan3 years3 years
Minnesota6 years6 years
Mississippi3 years3 years
Missouri5 years5 years
Montana3 years2 years
Nebraska4 years4 years
Nevada2 years3 years
New Hampshire3 years3 years
New Jersey2 years6 years
New Mexico3 years4 years
New York3 years3 years
North Carolina3 years3 years
North Dakota2 years2 years
Ohio2 years2 years
Oklahoma2 years2 years
Oregon2 years6 years
Pennsylvania2 years2 years
Rhode Island3 years10 years
South Carolina3 years3 years
South Dakota3 years3 years
Tennessee1 year3 years
Texas2 years2 years
Utah4 years3 years
Vermont3 years3 years
Virginia2 years5 years
Washington3 years3 years
West Virginia2 years2 years
Wisconsin3 years3 years
Wyoming4 years4 years
Washington, D.C.3 years3 years

Source: WalletHub

What Is the Consequence of Missing a Filing Deadline?

The penalties for missing a filing deadline can be severe.

Impact on Claim Validity

If you miss the filing deadline, your claim may be denied because it’s no longer possible to show the validity of your claim. For instance, if you wait three months after an accident to file an insurance claim, your insurer may not be able to determine the source of the damage to your car.

Potential Financial Losses

You may also face financial losses when you fail to file a timely claim. Your insurer may deny the claim and refuse to pay for repairs. Filing immediately after an incident or accident is your best bet.

Initiate the Claims Process

Starting the claims process is relatively simple, although you should carve out some time to review your policy and begin making calls or submitting an online claim.

Identify the Insurance Company Responsible

You should contact your insurance company if you were the at-fault driver or received damage due to a weather event or vandalism. However, if another driver was the instigator, then their insurance company would likely make the payout. In either case, letting your insurance company know what happened is helpful.

Actions After an Accident

Take action immediately after an accident while the incident is fresh. The actions you take now can make a difference in your long-term payout. First, call the police to report the accident or issue. If you need to file a claim after a flood, it is essential to understand what is covered by insurance and what is not.

Gather Documents

The next step is to gather any documents needed. This can include your insurance information and that of the other driver, as well as their name, phone number, and address. Take photos of your car and the other car. Finally, make sure you get a copy of the police report.

Contact Witnesses

If there are any witnesses to the accident, collect their contact information as well since it may be needed to support your insurance claim.

Understand Your Rights and Responsibilities

Reviewing your insurance policy will help you understand your rights and responsibilities when filing a claim.

Policyholder Rights

In general, your rights include choosing an auto repair shop, receiving reasonable compensation for damages, and the ability to contest a denial. Your policy may spell out additional rights as well.

Filing Responsibilities

Your responsibilities as a policyholder are to report accidents or incidents promptly, to provide accurate details and evidence, and to pay any applicable deductibles.

What Makes a Successful Claims Process?

In a successful claims process, everyone is happy and properly compensated. This involves the perfect combination of clear communication with ongoing updates as well as a prompt resolution.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

The biggest mistake to avoid is delaying filing a claim. Beyond that, make sure you return calls from insurance adjusters and the police if needed. Provide complete and accurate information.

Streamline Filing

When you file an insurance claim, you can take steps to streamline the process.

Many insurers have a mobile app, which can simplify reporting the claim and receiving updates. It also helps to have everything organized before you file. Finally, don’t be afraid to follow up with your insurer to check on progress.

FAQs

Is there a time limit on making an insurance claim?
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Some companies have a time limit, such as 30 days, for making an insurance claim. Check with your insurer or review your paperwork to determine if this is the case.
Do insurance companies have a time limit?
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Yes, some insurance companies do have a time limit for claims filing. The amount of time to file after an accident varies by insurer.
How do I know if I am covered when filing a claim?
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Review your policy documents or clarify policy coverage directly with your insurnace agent or provider.

Premiums are sourced from over 30,000 zip codes across 200 insurance companies. We estimate premiums based on public filings for policies seeking 50/100 in liability with $500 deductibles for collision and comprehensive coverage. Estimated rates are based on a 35-year-old single female with a good credit score and no history of accidents or violations driving a 2023 Toyota RAV4 LE. We partner with Quadrant Information Services to source our data and assume no unique benefits or discounts are applied for these rates (unless otherwise stated). Your own rates may be different.