Unreasonable delay in processing insurance claims violates good faith duties causing additional damages beyond benefit amounts. Prompt investigation requires beginning immediately upon notice without unnecessary delays. Reasonable timeframes vary by claim complexity but months without action evidence bad faith. Repeated document requests for previously provided information demonstrate delay tactics. Payment timing after coverage determination must be prompt without bureaucratic delays. Partial payments should issue for undisputed amounts during investigation. Communication gaps leaving policyholders wondering about status violate duties. Staffing inadequacies causing backlogs don’t excuse unreasonable delays. Computer system problems represent insurer issues not policyholder problems. Regulatory timeframes provide maximum periods often exceeded in bad faith. Economic pressure through delays forces inadequate settlement acceptance. Medical treatment delays from health insurance processing cause physical harm. Business failures result from commercial insurance payment delays. Foreclosures follow from homeowner insurance claim delays after losses. Understanding delay impacts helps prove bad faith through temporal harm beyond coverage disputes.