A Comprehensive Guide to State Farm Car Insurance Claims
TABLE OF CONTENTS
After being involved in a car accident, one of the most common ways to recover compensation is by filing a claim against the at-fault party’s insurance policy. Since auto insurance is mandated under California law, the majority of motorists should be in compliance and have coverage to pay for certain types and amounts of damages. Dealing with the insurance company, however, may be more challenging than you thought.
One of the country’s most popular insurance providers is State Farm, boasting an incredible 94,000,000+ policies across their various financial products. Fortunately, when you work with our strategically aggressive car accident attorneys from Text Kevin Accident Attorneys, your legal team will have extensive experience navigating State Farm insurance claims. Here is more about how auto insurance claims with State Farm work and what to expect from your car accident insurance settlement.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Is State Farm a Good Insurance Company?
State Farm is widely recognized as being one of the top-rated auto insurance providers. According to U.S. News & World Report, in 2023, State Farm was ranked number two out of nine auto insurance companies included in their Best Car Insurance Companies report. However, as of 2024, State Farm dropped to the number three spot when surveyed consumers reported that other insurance companies performed better.
According to J.D. Power, State Farm is the largest home insurance company in the U.S. and regularly ranks higher than other insurance providers in terms of claims and customer satisfaction. Bankrate gave State Farm a score of 4.2 out of five due to the high level of consumer support and financial strength. Some of the most widely reported benefits of choosing State Farm include:
- The availability of discounts and savings for young drivers
19,000 agents and numerous agencies strategically located across the country - Access to free Fire Hazard
- Monitoring Devices for qualifying policyholders
- Their mobile app
There have also been several cons reported with State Farm, including higher than average premiums, lack of insurance coverage, no live chat features, no accident forgiveness coverage, and an inability to open new homeowners insurance policies in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and California.
Note
State Farm does still offer new auto insurance policies in the state of California. State Farm does not issue new homeowners insurance policies as of May 2023.
How Do I Contact State Farm in California?
There are several ways you can contact State Farm after a car accident in California. You can call State Farm to file an auto insurance claim at 800 – SF – CLAIM, or 800–732–5246. If you are filing a glass insurance claim after a car accident, you can call State Farm at 888–624–4410. If you prefer to speak with an agent in person or would rather talk with a local agency, there are many State Farm agencies located throughout California. Some of the most notable include:
- Bakersfield, CA at 661–327–0838
- Fontana, CA at 909–370–4595
- Clovis, CA at 559–900–7908
- Lomita, CA at 310–326–0075
- Rialto, CA at 909–877–8800
- Fortuna, CA at 707–725–1135
- Santa Maria, CA at 805–925–4610
- Atwater, CA at 209–358–6877
- Clayton, CA at 925–672–2300
- Jackson, CA at 209–223–2000
- Selma, CA at 559–896–1002
- Oakhurst, CA at 559–683–3467
- Angels Camp, CA at 209–736–5910
- Murrieta, CA at 951–461–1496
- Ceres, CA at 209–632–3621
- Santa Clarita, CA at 661–424–0800
- Hollister, CA at 8831–637–4442
- San Francisco, CA at 415–689–1591
- Hemet, CA at 951–652–2196
- Hercules, CA at 510–724–1800
- Costa Mesa, CA at 949–646–9393
How to File a Claim with State Farm?
Filing a claim with State Farm does not have to be a hassle when you have a reputable car accident attorney from Text Kevin Accident Attorneys handling your case. California follows fault insurance laws under the California Insurance Code – INS § 11580.1. After being involved in a car crash, instead of filing against your auto policy, you will do so against the liable party’s car insurance policy. This is in contrast to states that follow no-fault insurance laws, requiring motorists to carry personal injury protection (PIP) coverage that allows them to file claims against their own auto insurance policies no matter who causes the accident.
If the driver that hit you or another liable person has State Farm auto insurance coverage, when you are ready to file your claim, you can do so by phone. You can reach the nationwide State Farm office by calling 800–732–5246. This phone line allows claims to be filed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you do not want to call their phone number, you may be able to file your claim using their mobile app if you are a State Farm policyholder or through their website.
Tip
Before you file your State Farm car insurance claim, make sure you have compiled the information you need to do so accurately and in full. Do not forget to get the liable party’s name and policy number, provide copies of your police reports and photos of the accident scene, and jot down the vehicle, model, and license plate number of the driver that hit you.
Your Rights When You File an Insurance Claim with State Farm
You should have an in-depth understanding of your rights when filing a claim with State Farm or any car insurance provider. This is because it is not unusual for insurance companies to attempt to take advantage of claimants in the hopes of reducing their profit losses. You have the right to have your claim handled fairly. This means insurance companies are prohibited from engaging in the following tactics according to the California Department of Insurance:
- Attempting to settle car accident claims for less than a reasonable amount based on State Farm advertising
- Misrepresenting insurance policy provisions
- Settling despite the fact that liability has been clearly proven
- Misrepresenting relevant facts to the auto insurance claim
- Offering insultingly low settlement amounts to persuade catastrophic injury victims or policyholders to file civil claims
- Imposing specific requirements that were not detailed in the insured’s policy
There are also restrictions on how investigations should be handled and how State Farm responds to insurance claims. In the investigative process, State Farm is required to complete investigations within a reasonable amount of time of the claim filing. This is usually somewhere around 30 days. State Farm investigators are prohibited from altering or destroying internal documents or evidence that hides agents who have mishandled a claim. If State Farm refuses to pay your claim without completing a comprehensive investigation into your collision, they could be accused of handling your claim in bad faith.
Other rights you have when filing a claim with State Farm include:
- An explanation for settlement offers or claimed denials
- Prompt and reasonable action on your claim
- Claim denials without just cause
- Denial or acceptance of a claim within a reasonable amount of time
How Long Do You Have to Report an Accident to State Farm Insurance?
It may surprise you to learn that insurance companies can determine how long claimants have to report accidents or file claims. However, State Farm does not list any specific deadline for car insurance claim filings. According to most policies, accidents should be reported as soon as possible. The amount of time you have to report your accident to State Farm insurance will vary depending on the severity of your injuries, when the liable party provides you with their auto insurance information, and other factors.
Some auto insurance companies require claims to be filed within 30 days of the accident, otherwise, they have the authority to deny the claim. Your State Farm insurance claim attorney will review the liable party’s insurance policy to determine if the policy states how long you have to report your accident. If there is no deadline, we will carefully review the circumstances of your case and get your claim filed when it is appropriate to do so.
However, if after reviewing the details of your case, we determine that you may need to file a personal injury lawsuit to recoup the total value of your damages, we may need to act more quickly. It is only State Farm insurance deadlines that need to be met. You generally have just two years from the date of the accident to file a civil claim according to California Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1.
Failure to file before the statute of limitations expires could mean you miss out on an opportunity to recover maximum compensation for your damages at trial. Fortunately, even if the deadline passes, since State Farm insurance does not have such deadlines, we may still be able to recover a portion of your damages as outlined in the at-fault party’s insurance policy.
Is State Farm Good at Paying Claims?
In the J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study℠, State Farm received a rating of 891 out of 1,000 points. Thousands of individuals who had filed car insurance claims in the last six months were surveyed. These results suggest that consumers are impressed with State Farm’s ability to pay out on claims.
Pro Tip
Do not settle your State Farm insurance claim without having your attorney review the settlement offer. While many consumers may have reported that State Farm is good at paying in claims, we do not know how many of these consumers had legal representation and insight into the true value of their claims.
How Long Does State Farm Take to Pay a Claim?
Every State Farm insurance claim is different. However, insurance companies are required to act on claims in a timely manner. Many claimants find State Farm making settlement offers within 45 days of the claim filing. In some cases, the insurance company will make offers sooner. These are the types of settlement offers you should be cautious of. Remember, the insurance company is going to lose money paying out on your claim.
If you receive a fast offer, this could be a sign that your damages are worth far more than you expected. It is not unusual for insurance companies to make settlement offers when they know their claimants are in desperate need of financial support. By tempting you with fast money, they could get away with paying out less than you are entitled to if you do not have your legal advocate review your offer before you accept it.
How Much Does State Farm Pay for Bodily Injury?
Bodily injury liability coverage is designed to pay for your medical expenses. The California Department of Insurance requires motorists to carry at least $15,000 per person and $30,000 per accident in bodily injury liability coverage. If the driver that hit you only had the minimum amount of coverage through State Farm, then State Farm would only be required to pay out a maximum of $30,000 in medical expenses.
Even seemingly minor injuries can rapidly cost more than $30,000. This does not take into account the impact your injuries will continue to have on your life, which might include additional medical treatment and care. The amount State Farm will be required to pay you will depend on how much coverage the at-fault party purchased. Any damages that remain can be sought through your personal car insurance policy or by filing a personal injury lawsuit against those responsible.
How Do I Dispute a Claim with State Farm?
It is not unusual for car accident insurance claims to be denied. Generally, you can get a denial overturned by having your personal injury attorney step in and negotiate with the State Farm insurance adjusters on your behalf. However, the general process for disputing a claim involves:
- Reviewing your denial letter with your attorney to understand State Farm’s reasons for denying your claim
- Collecting additional supporting evidence that can be used to prove the State Farm policyholder’s negligence and liability
- Reaching out to the State Farm agent handling your claim to provide them with your additional supporting evidence and reasons why you believe the claimed denial is incorrect
If working with the State Farm insurance agent does not overturn your denial, you may need to file a formal appeal. With help from your attorney, you can write to the State Farm Claims Department and explain why your denial is inaccurate, providing the additional evidence we gathered to support your case.
You should not lose hope if your car insurance claim is denied. It is normal for insurance companies to deny even the most deserving of claimants. With the right legal representative on your side, you can protect yourself from being taken advantage of and potentially pursue alternative options for legal recourse.
If State Farm’s claims department refuses to reverse your denial, we may need to move forward with mediation or other alternative dispute resolution options, such as arbitration. Should mediation or arbitration prove futile, we may have grounds to file a civil lawsuit against State Farm for handling your claim in bad faith.
Frequently Asked Questions About State Farm Insurance
During this challenging time in your life, we understand you may have many unanswered questions about how State Farm auto insurance claims work and what to expect from your settlement. We want you to feel empowered and confident demanding the liable party compensate you fairly for your damages.
To that end, we have answered some of the most frequently asked questions our clients have had regarding State Farm car insurance claims below. If you have additional concerns we did not cover here, do not hesitate to reach out to our legal team to discuss the individual details of your case during a free, no-obligation consultation.
What is an insurance claim?
An insurance claim is a way of notifying the insurance company that you need to tap into their coverage to pay for certain types and amounts of damages after being involved in an accident. Your insurance claim is unlikely to cover the full spectrum of your damages. Your settlement will be tied to the auto insurance policy limits and types of covered losses. Some of the most common types of coverage that may be available include:
- Bodily injury liability coverage which pays for your medical expenses after a collision
- Property damage liability coverage which pays for the damage to your vehicle
- Personal injury protection coverage which pays for several types of losses no matter who is responsible for causing the accident
- Uninsured motorist coverage which pays for medical expenses and property damages when the at-fault driver is uninsured or underinsured
You should consider filing a claim against the liable party's State Farm insurance policy if there was significant vehicle damage or injuries. It may not be worth your while to file a State Farm insurance claim if there was little to no vehicle damage or you do not require any type of medical exam or treatment following the accident. However, if your life has been affected in any way by the collision, filing an insurance claim should be a top priority.
Can you file an insurance claim without a police report?
You are legally required to file a police report after an accident if any involved parties have been injured or property damages reach $1,000 according to the CA Department of Motor Vehicles. You can file a State Farm car insurance claim without a police report, but you may be better off including a copy of your police report with your insurance claim filing. Your police report could detail information about the accident, including who is responsible. These types of evidence can help reduce the likelihood that State Farm denies your claim.
How soon can you file a claim after getting insurance?
As soon as you have auto insurance coverage in place you can file a claim. However, the damage must have occurred after the policy went into effect.
Does insurance go up after a claim?
At-fault drivers may see their auto insurance premiums go up after being involved in an accident. State Farm could even refuse to continue providing insurance coverage if they determine a policyholder is considered a "risky driver". However, California prohibits insurance companies from increasing premiums when injury victims are not responsible for causing the accident according to the California Department of Insurance.
Can insurance deny a claim?
Yes, State Farm can deny your car insurance claim if there was a lapse in coverage, policy exclusions apply, you do not have enough evidence to support your case, or the amount of compensation you are claiming exceeds the policyholder's coverage limits.
Does State Farm cover rental cars?
Yes, State Farm offers rental reimbursement which can help cover the cost of a rental car after a collision.
Contact Our Car Accident Lawyers Today for Legal Help with Your State Farm Insurance Claim
While State Farm may be one of the leading auto insurance companies in the nation, they are still an insurance company. This means they make money by paying out as little on claims as possible. Do not be caught by surprise if State Farm pushes back when you file a claim. They will lose money by offering you a settlement. If you receive a settlement offer from State Farm, before you accept, review the offer with your dedicated car accident attorney from Text Kevin Accident Attorneys.
This way, if the settlement does not fully meet your needs, we can help you renegotiate terms and fight for the maximum amount of compensation you deserve. Before you file your State Farm claim, trust your car accident case with our highly experienced car accident attorneys from Text Kevin Accident Attorneys. Get started on your State Farm insurance claim as soon as today by completing our online contact form or calling our office to schedule your 100% free consultation.
Kevin received both his bachelor’s degree and law degree from the University of California, Irvine. He is the managing partner of Text Kevin Accident Attorneys and is recognized as a standout in plaintiffs’ litigation for personal injury law by Best Lawyers, the oldest and most respected legal peer-review publisher. Kevin has written for several law magazines and is an award-winning car accident lawyer in California.
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