How Long Do Car Accident Settlements Take?

What Is the Average Time for a Car Accident Settlement?

There is no standard timeline for settling a car accident claim.

Several factors influence the timeline needed to resolve and settle a case.

Each accident injury claim is unique, and the resolution time for an auto accident case depends on its unique circumstances and details.

The settlement process can range from a few weeks to several months, or even years, depending on the complexity involved, strength of the case, and demands being made.

If you've sustained severe injuries and significant damages, this could further extend the settlement timeline.

In some cases, the insurance company can make a full settlement offer relatively quickly, allowing the matter to be resolved fairly.

In other cases the insurers can decide to dig in their heels and fight to limit what they have to pay, which can make obtaining a fair settlement take longer.

It's not unheard of for insurance companies to strategically delay paying in order to put pressure on an injured claimant in the hopes they get desperate and will accept a lower offer.

We never truly know how long the settlement process will take until our car accident lawyers get to work and begin the negotiation process.

If you've been injured in a crash that wasn't your fault, let the personal injury lawyers at Lawsuit Legal help maximize your personal injury compensation.

The Auto Accident Settlement Process: What You Need to Know

Being involved in a serious car accident is a traumatic experience. In the aftermath of a crash, the legal process is often needed to recover fair compensation from the responsible parties.

It would be great if insurers simply paid a fair payout for injured parties to cover their losses sustained in the accident.

Unfortunately, in our experience the insurance companies often have to be forced to offer a fair amount to victims.

The settlement process can vary slightly based on your state and the nature of the claim, but will generally follow the following outline:

Immediate Aftermath and Medical Attention

This is the crash event that gives rise to a legal claim. You were involved in a wreck that wasn't your fault and sustained injuries. After a serious auto accident, the first priority of motorists should be to check their condition, check the safety of all parties involved, and seek professional medical attention for yourself and any other injured passengers or participants. Call 9-1-1 and request medical attention from first responders and alert the police to scene of the accident. Go to the emergency room or hospital and get checked by a doctor as soon as possible. Contact a personal injury lawyer and let them handle communications with the insurers.

Gathering Evidence & Preparing Your Claim

The car accident lawyers handling your case will investigate the accident circumstances and begin preparing your case. Your insurer will assign a claims adjuster to your case, who will conduct their own investigation into what happened and amount of damages you may be entitled. A copy of the police report will play an important role in documenting what happened and who may be at fault. Some cases can become complicated legal matters involving multiple layers of liability, multiple injured parties, and complex injury laws to be navigated. A strong case is built upon evidence, and these facts will help determine what parties may be liable. Your lawyer will help collect all the accident-related records, documents, and evidence needed to prepare your insurance case. Dashcam footage, blackbox data, and any other available logs and records will be gathered by your attorneys to support your liability claims.

Evaluating Damages

Your medical records will be reviewed and used to prove the extent of physical harm suffered. Your attorney will evaluate the total damages suffered as a result of the crash which can entitle you to compensation under the law. With your evidence in hand, your legal team will file a claim on your behalf with the responsible driver's insurer or your insurance company depending on your state. The insurance coverage and policy details will play an important role in determining what type of payout may be available to recover. Skilled personal injury attorney representation will be able to help maximize your compensation and obtain the best possible outcome.

Settlement Negotiations

Supported by the evidence collected your law firm will begin negotiating for a fair settlement payout amount. If you haven't retained an attorney at this point, you are strongly recommended to review your initial settlement offer with a lawyer. In our experience the opening offer to settle is usually woefully inadequate from what you are entitled by law. Our experienced attorney have years of experience negotiating with insurers and know what what it takes to obtain a fair settlement.

Reaching an Agreement on Compensation

If both parties agree on a settlement amount, the insurance company a settlement agreement will be drafted. After signing the agreement to settle, you will receive your agreed upon compensation. A big settlement check from the insurance company often comes as a huge relief for car accident victims and their families. The money won is often critical for providing the financial security the injured need to be able to focus on their recovery. The funds can be used to cover medical bills, vehicle repairs, and other accident-related expenses incurred.

The majority of personal injury claims settle without needing to go to trial. Reaching a fair settlement offer quickly is a huge benefit to most accident victims. In rare cases the insurance company simply refuses to offer a fair settlement throughout the negotiation process. If you aren't able to come to terms to obtain a fair offer, it may prove necessary to sue the car insurance company. In some cases you may have to go to trial to seek the full compensation you deserve which can extend the timeline further.

 

 

Factors Affecting the Settlement Timeline

Several factors can influence how long the settlement process takes:

• Severity of Injuries: More severe injuries often require longer medical treatment, increase the financial stakes, and can make reaching a final settlement offer take longer. Some injuries like whiplash are more likely to be scrutinized and disputed by insurers.
• Disputed Liability: If there’s disagreement about who is at fault or when there are multiple potential liable parties the process can become more complicated and lengthy.
• Insurance Company Practices: Some insurers are quicker than others in processing claims and making settlement offers.
• Legal Representation: Representation by a skilled attorney can help streamline the settlement process and make negotiations easier. Not every lawyer has the means, willingness, or ability to take a legal claim to trial if necessary. Our reputation ensures the insurance companies will take your claims seriously.

You need an accident lawyer who knows how to stand up to these powerful insurance companies on your behalf. Most accident injury victim's don't know what they are up against until it's too late.