Insurance Company Stall Tactics and How to Fight Back

You filed your claim, sent the records, followed every step, and now, silence. No updates, no answers, just delays while your bills pile up.
You’re not the only one dealing with this. In Florida, insurance companies dragging things out is all too common. But you don’t have to just wait and hope. You have rights, and there are ways to make them move.

What the Adjuster Is (and Isn’t) Really Doing

Most people think once the adjuster shows up, the claim is finally moving forward. But the truth is, the adjuster isn’t there to fight for you.
Once your claim is filed, the insurance company assigns an adjuster to dig into the details, including accident reports, damage photos, witness statements, and your medical records. Their job is to gather facts, but also to find ways to reduce what the company has to pay. While you’re waiting for help, they’re reviewing your policy, looking for coverage gaps, and deciding if there’s any reason to delay or deny. Even after they finish their investigation, the final call usually rests with someone higher up at the company. That’s why so many claims feel like they’re stuck in limbo, because they are. And unless you push back, they’ll keep it that way.

Furthermore, Florida law doesn’t require insurers to resolve everything immediately, but it does set certain deadlines. If they’re stalling without a valid reason, that could be a violation and possibly bad faith. But the longer you wait without pressure, the more time they have to stall. So, why are they doing this?

Why Insurance Companies Stall and What’s Really Going On

Delays don’t always mean they’ve forgotten you. In many cases, they’re stalling on purpose. Not because they’re confused or understaffed, but because it works. When you’re in pain, out of work, and watching medical bills stack up, they’re counting on you to get tired, frustrated, and ready to settle for whatever they offer just to be done with it.

Sometimes, it’s tangled up in their own red tape. One adjuster leaves, another steps in, then they wait for a manager to sign off or send the file to legal. Each delay is another excuse to buy time, and while they sort it out, you’re still stuck without answers.

Other times, they’re digging through your policy or looking for ways to say no. If the other driver was using their car for work or rideshare and didn’t have the right coverage, the insurer may try to argue there’s no responsibility at all. If the other driver won’t answer the phone, the insurance company might freeze everything while they “investigate,” even if you already sent them a full police report showing fault.

At the end of the day, every delay protects their bottom line. Less paid out means more kept in their pocket. And if you don’t know what signs to watch for, or how to push back, they’ll keep dragging their feet as long as the law allows.

Red Flags: How to Spot Insurance Stall Tactics

When an insurance company doesn’t want to pay, they don’t always say no. They just keep slowing you down, hoping you’ll settle for less or give up altogether. Here are some of the most common tactics we see they are using for this purpose:

Asking for documents you already sent: They’ll request the same medical records or repair estimates multiple times, claiming they never received them or need a “more complete version.”
Switching adjusters mid-claim: Suddenly, the person you’ve been working with is gone, and a new adjuster needs “time to review your file,” hitting pause on everything.
Saying “we’re still investigating”: This one drags on for weeks, sometimes months, even when the facts are clear and liability was already accepted.
Not responding to your calls or messages: Voicemails go unanswered. Emails sit with no reply. Some clients say they never even got a callback after the first contact.
Admitting fault but delaying payment: They agree their driver caused the crash, but still won’t approve your medical bills, repairs, or lost wages.
Denying the seriousness of your injuries: Even with medical records, scans, and time missed from work, they’ll suggest your injuries aren’t as bad as you say.
Blaming someone else for the delay: They say they’re waiting on their insured to respond, or a vendor, or some paperwork from another department—anything to buy time.
Sending partial offers with no details: You get a number, but no breakdown of what it covers. No clear explanation. Just pressure to accept before the “window closes.”

These aren’t just frustrating, but can hurt your case and delay the support you need. If any of this sounds familiar, it’s time to act.

7 Immediate Steps to Take If You’re Being Stalled

If the insurance company’s dragging its feet, don’t just wait around hoping they’ll do the right thing. The longer you wait, the more leverage they think they have. Here’s what you can do right now to take back control:

Keep records of everything

Write down names, dates, call times, what was said, and who you spoke with. Save every email and letter. If they try to backpedal later, you’ll have proof.

Send a formal follow-up

Put it in writing. Email and certified mail. Ask for an update, and keep the tone firm but professional. This puts pressure on them and creates a paper trail.

Get an independent estimate

If they’re dragging their feet on a damage claim, hire your own adjuster or get quotes from a repair shop. Don’t wait for their slow process to decide on your repairs.

Ask for a written reason for the delay

They owe you more than vague excuses. Demand a clear explanation for why your claim is still pending.

Report them to the Florida Department of Financial Services

If they’ve missed deadlines or aren’t treating your claim fairly, file a complaint. It gets their attention fast, and it’s free.

Check your own coverage

You might have Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) or MedPay that can step in while the other insurer stalls.

Talk to a lawyer

If your injuries are serious, your bills are rising, or the delay has gone on too long, it’s time to get professional help. An experienced lawyer can help you with all the above steps.

And if you think the insurance company is stalling, but they’re probably still within the deadline, chances are, they’re not.

How Long Do They Legally Have to Respond in Florida?

Under Florida law, you have the right to a claims process that’s fair, timely, and taken seriously. Insurance companies can’t just sit on your file and get back to you whenever they feel like it, but there are clear deadlines they’re expected to meet.

Florida Statute § 627.70131 says insurers must acknowledge your claim within 7 days of receiving it, unless there are factors beyond their control. That acknowledgment should confirm they got your claim and are beginning the process.

From there, they must begin investigating within 7 days after receiving your proof-of-loss documents. If a physical inspection is required, it should take place within 30 days.

And most importantly: they’re required to pay or deny the claim within 60 days after receiving notice, unless something beyond their control causes a delay. If they don’t meet that deadline, they may have to pay interest on the delayed amount, and in some cases, it may even be considered bad faith under Florida insurance law.

If you’re past those deadlines and still waiting for a clear answer, it’s time to speak up or get help. Silence isn’t just frustrating; it may be a violation of your rights.

Can You Sue for Delays?

When insurance companies ignore the above timelines, it may be a legal violation of the Unfair Claims Settlement Practices Act, which lays out exactly how insurers must treat you. If they’re silent past the 90-day mark or keep stalling without explanation, avoid communication, or delay payment without a valid reason, that could give you the right to take legal action and sue the insurance company beyond the original claim.

A bad-faith lawsuit doesn’t just aim to recover what the insurer should’ve paid. It can also seek additional damages, attorney’s fees, and penalties for how they treated you. These cases send a message: dragging out claims to wear people down isn’t just unfair but unlawful.

But it takes more than frustration to prove bad faith. These cases require timelines, documentation, and every record of their delay. That’s why keeping track of who you talked to, what they said, and when they said it matters. If they broke the rules, you can make sure they’re held accountable.

Now, let’s take a look at the most common mistakes people make while waiting for that first offer.

Mistakes to Avoid When the Insurance Company Is Stalling

If your claim is going nowhere, here are the biggest mistakes we see people make—so you know what not to do:

Waiting too long without action
Thinking “they’re still working on it” while weeks or months pass with no real update.
Assuming liability means payment
Just because they accept fault doesn’t mean they’ll cover the damages. Coverage issues can still block your payout.
Not following up in writing
Relying only on phone calls or waiting for them to call you back, with no paper trail to prove it.
Ignoring your own insurance options
Not checking your own UM/UIM or MedPay coverage, even though it could help cover costs while the other insurer delays.
Avoiding legal help
Delaying or avoiding hiring a lawyer out of fear it’ll cost too much, when in reality, it often helps speed things up and maximize your claim.
Not filing a complaint
Skipping the step of reporting the insurer to Florida’s Department of Financial Services, even when deadlines are clearly missed.
Doing nothing
No pressure, no pushback, no documentation. That’s exactly what insurance companies hope for.

Avoiding these mistakes can make all the difference in getting your claim moving and securing the outcome you deserve, even if it’s not always easy.

Why It’s So Hard to Handle Insurance Staling Alone

Trying to deal with a stalling insurance company by yourself can feel like a full-time job, and not a fair one. They know the system inside and out. Most people don’t. And that’s exactly what they count on. Without someone in your corner, it’s easy to miss deadlines, accept too little, or get flat-out denied without knowing why.

We’ve seen this happen to people who had solid claims but didn’t know how to fight back. That’s where we come in.

When we take over, we push the insurer to act. We hold them accountable under Florida law and force them to play by the rules. If they don’t, we build the case and take it further, whether that’s negotiation, pressure, or taking it to court if needed. We don’t just file paperwork. At Steinger, Greene & Feiner, we protect your rights, help you understand your policy, and walk you through every step so you’re not left guessing.

If you’re dealing with unanswered calls, shifting adjusters, or lowball offers, don’t wait. Our auto accident attorney team is here to step in and make things move. You don’t pay us anything unless we win your case, and the consultation is always free. We operate across Florida with offices in West Palm Beach, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, Fort Myers, Orlando, Port St. Lucie, and more. Let us deal with the insurance company so you can focus on getting better.

(800) 560-5059