There are state and company guidelines, however they can be extended. The company needs the time necessary to fully investigate the claim. If you care to provide (either in the discussion forum on this question or my message board), the details, perhaps I could be of more assistance. If you want you could always file a complaint with WA states dept of insurance, I assure you these complaint answers are VERY time specific.
You contact the insurance company, fill up the claim form and submit documents like proof of death, proof of relationship etc and then the insurance company will process your claim and settle the money
In the state of Arizona, there is no specified time limit in which an insurance company has to settle a claim with an insured party or with a third party that has filed a claim. An individual does have a time limit of two years in which to file a lawsuit against the driver who was at fault in an accident.
You can't. Usually it is up to the insurance company's discretion. They have the right to settle their insurance claims for as little as possible without litigation. \
You cannot go behind someone's back and file a claim on their insurance. If it is a major injury you can file suit and they will have to provide it to their insurance company so that the insurance company will defend them or settle the claim. This is to force the issue.
Typically, an insurance policy gives the insurance company the right to settle any claim at its sole discretion. So, you may have no right to oppose the insurance company's decision to settle! But read your policy to find out for sure.
A claim is a liability on part of the insurance company. If a customer makes a claim it means that the insurance company has to pay the customer for the amount is eligible to claim and hence it is a expenditure on the balance sheets of the insurance company.
DEPENDS ON THE TYPE OF CLAIM - FEEL FREE TO RE-WRITE THIS QUESTION SPECIFYING THE DETAILS. THAT IS MOST IMPORTANT TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION.
That's not very likely. The insurance company does not file your claim, they accept your claim notice from you. You have to file your claim with the company, not the other way around.
Here is a great resource to find the answer to that question: http://www.iii.org/media/companies/state_org/insur_departments/
You are responsible
Usually in a bad faith insurance claim the insurance company is in the wrong. A bad faith claim is when an insurance company fails to pay out what was promised on the claim. More than likely you could sue the insurance company and have a chance at winning your case.
You must do this right away.