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Filing a property insurance claim is already stressful. Dealing with an insurer that seems to be dragging its feet makes everything worse. You submitted your paperwork, followed the process, and now you’re waiting with no clear answers and mounting pressure to repair your home or replace what you lost.
Some delays are a normal part of the claims process. Others are not. Knowing the difference matters because prolonged, unexplained delays may signal a larger problem, and may require you to take action to protect what you’re owed.
How Long Should a Property Insurance Claim Take in Florida?
Florida law sets clear timelines for how insurers must handle claims. Under Florida Statutes Section 627.70131, insurers are required to acknowledge a claim within 14 days of receiving notice. They must then begin an investigation and, within 90 days of receiving your completed proof of loss, either pay the claim, deny it, or issue a written statement explaining why more time is needed.
These deadlines exist to protect policyholders. When an insurer misses them without a valid explanation, that is not just inconvenient. It may put the company in violation of Florida’s insurance regulations.
Why Insurance Companies Delay Claims
Not every insurance claim delay is intentional. After a major hurricane or widespread weather event, insurers may face a backlog of claims that genuinely slows the process. Disputes over coverage, contested repair estimates, or requests for additional documentation can also extend a legitimate investigation.
That said, delays are not always just “part of the process.” In some cases, they may reflect a strategy to wear policyholders down. Insurers operate as businesses, and paying claims reduces their bottom line. Some companies use delays to pressure claimants into accepting low settlement offers, losing patience and dropping the claim, or simply moving on.
When delays go beyond what the circumstances reasonably explain, they may rise to the level of “bad faith” under Florida law. Bad faith occurs when an insurer fails to handle a claim with honesty, good faith, and fair dealing. This can include stringing along a policyholder with vague updates, repeatedly requesting documents that were already submitted, or simply going silent with no explanation.
Signs That Your Insurer May Be Acting in Bad Faith
Bad faith is not always easy to spot in the moment. It often develops gradually through a pattern of behavior. Some examples of potentially intentional insurance delay tactics include:
- Repeated requests for the same documents you have already submitted
- Vague or inconsistent explanations for why a decision has not been made
- Missed deadlines with no written explanation or follow-up
- Assigning multiple adjusters to your claim without continuity or clear handoffs
- Unexplained periods of silence lasting weeks or months
If you are seeing more than one of these patterns, it is worth paying close attention to the timeline and keeping detailed records of every interaction.
What You Can Do If Your Property Damage Claim Is Being Delayed
You are not powerless when insurance companies stall. There are concrete steps you can take to document the delay, create pressure, and protect your options if the situation escalates.
Document Everything
Keep a written log of every phone call, email, and piece of mail related to your claim. Record the name of every person you speak with, the date and time of the conversation, and what was said or promised. This record becomes important evidence if the dispute moves forward.
Put All Communication in Writing
When you follow up on your claim, do it by email or certified mail rather than by phone. Ask your insurer to provide specific timelines and written explanations for any delays. Written communication creates a paper trail that is much harder to dispute later.
Escalate Within the Company
If your assigned adjuster is not responding, request a review by a supervisor or claims manager. Ask for a written status update on your claim file. Moving your claim up the chain sometimes produces faster results and also demonstrates that you are actively monitoring the situation.
File a Complaint with Florida’s Department of Financial Services
Florida policyholders can submit a complaint directly through the Department of Financial Services, which oversees insurance company conduct in the state. In some situations, a regulatory complaint may prompt an insurer to provide an update or take a closer look at the claim file.
Know Your Policy Rights
Review your insurance policy carefully to identify any deadlines, documentation requirements, or duties you are responsible for as the policyholder. Understanding your obligations and your insurer’s obligations can help you identify where the breakdown is occurring and whether it may constitute a breach of contract.
When Is It Time to Involve a Florida Property Insurance Dispute Attorney?
It may be time to involve a property insurance dispute attorney if your claim has stalled without a valid reason or the insurer’s handling of the claim starts to fall outside what would normally be expected during the review process.
An attorney’s role is to force clarity and movement in the claim process. This typically includes:
- Reviewing the claim file and communications to identify where the process has stalled and how long the insurer has gone without meaningful action
- Contacting the insurer directly in writing to request a current status, identify what is still pending, and demand a specific timeline for the next update or decision
- Documenting the pattern of delay, including missed responses, repeated requests for the same information, or unexplained inactivity
- Sending formal legal correspondence that requires the insurer to respond to the claim in a timely and documented way
- Escalating the claim beyond the assigned adjuster, when communication breaks down or becomes inconsistent
- Preparing the claim for potential legal action if delays continue, including organizing the timeline of events and insurer communications
Bringing in legal counsel does not automatically mean a lawsuit will be filed. In many cases, insurer communication becomes more responsive once the claim is being handled through formal legal channels rather than informal follow-up.
If Your Property Insurance Claim Is Being Delayed, Contact Levin Litigation
Some delays are a reasonable part of how insurance claims work. Prolonged delays with no explanation, repeated missed deadlines, or a complete lack of communication are a different situation entirely and may be a sign of bad faith practices. If your insurer has gone quiet, keeps moving the goalposts, or has given you no clear path forward, you should not wait indefinitely for things to improve on their own.
Start by documenting everything and putting your communications in writing. Escalate within the company and file a regulatory complaint if necessary. And if those steps do not produce results, contact Levin Litigation for a free consultation. We’ll discuss your situation and help outline your next steps.
