Imagine this: You are driving after a long day at work and already dreaming about the comfort of home when suddenly – BAM! A negligent driver unexpectedly thrusts you back to reality. Panic and confusion will simultaneously creep in as you try to make sense of the sudden turn of events. As you’re in shock and left to grapple with the physical, psychological and financial challenges, you also can’t help but wonder about the legal impact of this tragedy. Then, you start asking yourself one of the most frequent questions related to the settlement process: How long does a car accident settlement take?
While there is an average duration to settle a car accident, your settlement timeline still depends on a multitude of factors surrounding your insurance claim. Naturally, a quick auto accident settlement is ideal. Unfortunately, conflicts often happen, which can lead to prolonged settlement negotiations. In short, there is no fixed timeframe because every car collision case is unique.
Soon, you will realize that the only thing within your control are the choices you must carefully make. It will be wise to meticulously consider what is at stake. Ultimately, it is worth getting a car accident attorney instead of taking matters into your own hands. This way, you prevent stressful delays and costs in the settlement process.
Elements influencing why your car accident settlement is taking so long
An auto accident settlement is a legal agreement between the injured victim and the at-fault party or their insurance provider to reach a resolution without going to trial. However, the time it takes to settle a car accident varies in length.
Let’s consider a hypothetical scenario. Suppose you are a severe collision victim T-boned by a pickup truck. The incident happened at an intersection during rush hour traffic. The truck driver involved was looking at his phone and failed to stop in time. As a result, you suffered internal organ damage requiring surgery and spinal cord injury leading to partial paralysis in your lower body. On top of the physical injuries, your vehicle sustained significant property damage.
Consequently, you missed multiple months of work due to extensive hospitalization, several follow-up visits to your doctor and physical therapy sessions you needed to complete. Finally, these unforeseen circumstances took a toll on your mental well-being.
But, perhaps your case is less severe, where another driver rear-ended your car, and you sustained a mild concussion. Either way, you’re now trying to determine how to face your insurance claim and end this nightmare once and for all. As the settlement process comes in full swing, your legal advocate can work with you in managing the following considerations:
- The severity of injuries: If your injuries require extensive treatment and recovery periods, it might be more difficult to obtain an accurate total of the immediate and long-term medical expenses. It is also possible that the injuries are so severe that they have lifetime consequences, impacting your capacity to work and overall enjoyment of life, which can further extend the timeline.
- Liability disputes: Not all auto accident cases are straightforward. One of the likely reasons why your accident settlement is taking so long is because there isn’t a clear at-fault party or multiple parties are involved, which stretches the time to finalize the car accident settlement. In Washington State, the contributory fault law applies, meaning you will receive compensation based on your percentage of fault. If the total damage amounts to $100,000 and you are 20% to blame for the incident, your final award will be reduced to $80,000.
- Insurance company complexities: Since insurance companies will always try to minimize payouts, the settlement negotiation can take longer than you hoped. If you have a high-value insurance claim, the insurer will likely scrutinize your request and try to employ tactics to devalue it.
These are just some reasons that can significantly contribute to why your car accident settlement is taking so long. Instead of taking the settlement process to chance, a strategic way to expedite the settlement process is to work with a reliable legal ally or a car accident lawyer.
Stages of a typical car accident settlement
As much as you would like to put this traumatic experience behind you, there are no guarantees about how long you must prove your insurance claim and fight for fair compensation. If you are a Washington State resident, sorting out an arrangement after your Seattle car accident can last a couple of weeks to several months or even years for the most complicated vehicular accident cases.
The general stages when you are trying to settle a car accident include:
- Initial claim filing: The allowable days to file an insurance claim, usually spanning two to four days, vary per jurisdiction. For instance, if no Washington State police officer investigated your auto accident case, you are required to report the collision within four days from when it occurred.
- Insurance company investigation: Insurance companies have different response rates, depending on the nature of your insurance claim or their current workload. To avoid significant payouts, they would thoroughly review the evidence and find potential loopholes. However, you can try to speed things up and do consistent follow-ups to get things moving.
- Settlement negotiation: If you disagree with the insurer’s settlement proposal, you have the right to make a counteroffer. If you reside in Washington State, your experienced Seattle personal injury attorney can guide you during the negotiations and prevent insurance adjusters from exploiting your vulnerable state. Also, accepting the insurance company’s initial offer might be tempting. But it is critical not to give in easily. Remember that rushed decisions can only result in an amount that does not fully cover your losses.
The amount of time you spend for each of these stages can eventually build up and explain why your car accident settlement is taking so long. Without you knowing it, the back and forth involved in the settlement negotiations already accumulated and you are a year in devoting your time and resources to settle your car accident. So, being on top of things, such as providing complete and accurate documentation, asking for regular updates from the insurer and seeking accurate prognosis at the soonest possible time, can fill in the gaps and shorten the waiting period.
Final thoughts: How long does a car accident settlement take?
The best things in life take time. Similarly, getting the best possible outcome for your insurance claim typically requires time. While the duration of a settlement process varies, ranging from several weeks to months and years, you can proactively expedite it by seeking legal representation.
Whether you are just within weeks of trying to settle your car accident or already deep in a month-long wait, maybe even years, knowing the potential reasons why your car accident settlement is taking so long can provide clarity as to how you can change the course of your situation.
So, make haste and contact us at Dean Standish Perkins & Associates. Instead of asking how long your car accident settlement takes, we will work on ensuring that you focus your energy on faster healing and recovery. Ultimately, your patience and our diligent legal support will pay off and make for a satisfactory resolution
