Common Reasons Why Personal Injury Cases Get Delayed or Denied

Roseville is a city in Placer County, California. The city also offers numerous recreational opportunities, including parks, sports complexes, and a vibrant downtown area. If you have ever submitted a personal injury claim, you know the process is not always simple. You’re dealing with medical bills, missed work, and the stress of recovery.

On top of that, waiting for the case to move forward can feel like watching paint dry. And sometimes, cases don’t just get delayed—they get flat-out denied. There are also strict deadlines, called statutes of limitation, that dictate how long you have to file. Miss that window, and you may lose your chance entirely.

This is why many people choose to work with a trusted Roseville personal injury attorney who knows how to navigate these rules and push a case forward without costly missteps.

Common Legal Reasons Personal Injury Claims Stall or Get Denied

1. Incomplete or Incorrect Paperwork

A personal injury claim starts with documents. Miss a form, file it late, or write the wrong details, and the process can stall. Courts in California require strict compliance with filing rules. Under California Code of Civil Procedure §335.1, most personal injury lawsuits must be filed within two years of the injury. If your paperwork is missing or filed after this deadline, the court may dismiss your case.

Tip: Keep copies of everything. Make a checklist of required forms before filing.

2. Disputes Over Liability

One of the fastest ways to slow down your claim is when the other side argues about fault. California follows pure comparative negligence. If you’re found 30% at fault in a car accident, your compensation drops by 30%. Insurance companies use this rule to push blame back on you.

What does this mean to you?

• Expect a delay if the fault does not appear clear as day.
• Collect evidence early: photos, police reports, and witness statements.
• Don’t give recorded statements without guidance.

3. Slow Medical Treatment or Records

Your medical care is central to your case. If you skip doctor visits, insurers argue your injuries aren’t serious. If your medical provider delays in sending records, your claim sits on hold.

Hospitals and clinics often have backlogs. It can take weeks to get a full treatment record. Without it, insurance adjusters won’t move forward.

To avoid this:

• Follow every medical instruction.
• Keep receipts and treatment notes.
• Ask providers for records early.

4. Insurance Company Tactics

Insurers are generally not favorable to large claims. They can stall a case by dragging their feet, request repeated documentation, or make a quick low settlement to get you to give up. Some adjusters have even denied legitimate claims, citing vague provisions in the policy.

California law, under the Unfair Insurance Practices Act (Cal. Ins. Code §790.03), prohibits unfair delay tactics. Still, proving bad faith takes time and sometimes requires a lawsuit.

Common stalling tactics:

• Asking for duplicate documents.
• Claiming they need “further investigation.”
• Offering low settlements quickly to pressure you.

5. Pre-Existing Conditions

If you had a prior injury, insurers may argue your current pain isn’t from the accident. Sorting out what’s “old” and what’s “new” often requires medical experts. That adds time.

Say you had back problems years ago, then got hurt in a car crash. The insurer may request old medical files to compare. While that happens, your claim pauses.

Tips: Be honest about prior injuries. Courts and insurers often reduce or deny claims if they catch you hiding information.

6. Going to Trial

Most personal injury cases settle out of court. But if talks break down, a trial can take years. Courts have crowded calendars, and hearings get rescheduled often.

Even before trial, the discovery phase—where both sides exchange evidence can last months. Each motion, deposition, or expert testimony extends the timeline.

Why this matters:

• Settlement is usually faster.
• Trials can be risky; juries may award less than the settlement offer.

7. Statute of Limitations Issues

California gives you two years from the injury to file, but there are exceptions. If the injury involves a government agency, you must file an administrative claim within six months under the California Government Code §911.2. Miss that, and the court likely won’t hear your case.

Key Takeaways

1. Missed deadlines or incomplete paperwork can hinder your claim process.
2. Disputes over who was at fault can also be a reason to deny your case.
3. A person with slow medical treatment or missing records would struggle to prove their innocence in a personal injury case.
4. Insurance company delay tactics can delay or even deny your case.
5. Your pre-existing medical conditions can also complicate claims.