How Long Do Florida Insurance Companies Have to Respond to My Claim?

After a car accident or other personal injury incident, your focus should be on healing, not waiting in limbo, wondering if the insurance company is ever going to call you back. Dealing with a slow or unresponsive insurer is one of the most frustrating parts of the claims process, and it can leave injured people feeling powerless at the worst possible time. Knowing your rights under Florida law can change that.

At the Law Offices of Scott Sobol, we help injured people throughout South Florida understand and protect their rights after accidents. If an insurance company is dragging its feet on your claim, attorney Scott Sobol and his team are ready to step in and push for the response and the compensation you deserve. You can reach our personal injury team for a free consultation at any time.

What Florida Law Requires From Insurance Companies

Florida places specific obligations on insurance companies when it comes to responding to claims. According to Florida Statute § 627.70131, insurers are required to acknowledge receipt of a claim communication within 7 calendar days. That means within one week of your first contact, you should hear something back. From there, the insurer must begin its investigation within 7 days of receiving your proof-of-loss statement, and any physical inspection of property must be completed within 30 days.

Perhaps most importantly, the insurer has 60 days from the date it receives notice of a claim to either pay or formally deny the claim. If that 60-day window passes without action, interest begins to accrue on the unpaid amount from the date the claim was filed. These timelines are designed to protect you from indefinite delays.

What Happens When an Insurer Misses These Deadlines

Missing a deadline does not automatically mean you win your claim, but it does carry real consequences. As noted above, late payments accrue interest under Florida law. Beyond that, an insurer’s pattern of unreasonable delays may support a bad faith insurance claim.

What Is Bad Faith Insurance in Florida?

Bad faith occurs when an insurer fails to act honestly and fairly toward a policyholder. Florida Statute § 624.155 allows injured parties to bring legal action against an insurer that does not make a good-faith effort to settle a legitimate claim. It is important to understand that Florida’s recent tort reform updates raised the bar for bad faith claims; negligence alone no longer meets the standard. However, a pattern of unreasonable delays, denials without explanation, or lowball offers can still form the basis of a bad faith action when combined with other evidence of unfair conduct.

When the Clock Can Be Paused

Florida law does permit insurers to pause, or “toll,” these deadlines under certain circumstances. If you fail to provide the requested claim documentation within 10 days of the insurer’s request, the clock may stop until that information is received. Similarly, if your claim is in mediation or an alternative dispute resolution process, the deadlines are paused for the duration of that proceeding. Factors genuinely outside the insurer’s control, such as a declared state of emergency, may also result in an extension of up to 30 days.

These exceptions are real, but they are not a blank check for insurers to stall indefinitely. If you believe the pauses being applied to your claim are unjustified, that is a red flag worth discussing with an attorney.

What You Should Do While Waiting on a Response

Waiting on an insurer does not mean doing nothing. The steps you take during this period can significantly affect the outcome of your claim.

• Document everything: Keep a written log of every communication with the insurance company, including dates, times, names, and what was discussed.
• Respond promptly: Return any insurer requests for information quickly to avoid giving them grounds to pause the clock.
• Keep records of your losses: Save all medical bills, repair estimates, missed work documentation, and any other expenses tied to your injury.
• Do not accept early offers without counsel: Insurers sometimes extend fast, low settlement offers before the full extent of injuries is known. Accepting too soon may prevent you from recovering what you truly deserve.
• Consult an attorney: If the insurer is unresponsive or acting in bad faith, an experienced personal injury attorney can apply legal pressure and explore your options.

Following these steps puts you in a much stronger position, whether the claim resolves on its own or escalates to litigation.

Contact the Law Offices of Scott Sobol

When insurance companies ignore their legal obligations, injured people are the ones who suffer. The Law Offices of Scott Sobol has spent more than 20 years fighting for clients in South Florida, recovering compensation for those who have been harmed by negligent drivers, dangerous property conditions, and bad-faith insurance practices. Our case results speak to a long history of holding insurers accountable and obtaining meaningful outcomes for the people we represent.

Scott Sobol handles cases in every circuit court across South Florida and is admitted to the State Bar of Florida, Illinois, and Texas. Our firm operates on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay nothing unless we win. If you believe your insurer is dragging its feet or treating your claim unfairly, we are here to help. To get started, please fill out our contact form and schedule your free consultation today.

LEGALLY REVIEWED BY:
Scott Sobol
April 20, 2026

Scott Sobol is a dedicated personal injury attorney with over two decades of experience representing injured clients across South Florida. He has handled more than 1,000 cases involving serious car accidents, unsafe premises, and denied insurance claims. Known for his client-focused approach, Scott prioritizes open communication to guide clients confidently through complex legal challenges. Licensed in Florida, Illinois, and Texas, his extensive knowledge of the law ensures a strong pursuit of justice for those affected by negligence.

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