There are about 1,000 car crashes a day in Florida. If you’ve been involved in an auto accident that could result in an injury claim, you’re aware of the complexities of getting everything sorted. One of the biggest questions you may have is how long your car accident case will take. The length of time involved depends on various factors, including the type of settlement you want and how much time you’re prepared to invest in your case.
There are a handful of other things to note, and although each circumstance is different, this guide can give you an idea of the type of timeline to expect.
Keep reading to learn more.
Check Injury Claim First
The first step in investigating how long your car accident lawsuit will take is to establish the full sum of your medical expenses. You’ll also want to back up your claim with evidence in medical records.
You should be aware of the nature of your injury, any future medical care that might be needed, and any continuing problems with that injury. For an accurate number, you’re expected to take the steps to reach your maximum medical improvement. This means that there won’t be any permanent disabilities or complications.
Reaching this can take a long time; it is often measured in months instead of weeks. It also takes time to obtain all the employment records, medical records, and other evidence to prove your claim. Everything is submitted to the insurance company, which will take around a month to look over the car accident claim and decide.
Injury Claim Offers
You might need to do some negotiating, and this could take a couple of weeks. Once there’s a value established and agreed upon, you should receive the settlement within a few months. You’ll also need to have reached maximum improvement.
This might take longer if there are unexpected complications.
So you’re looking at months to possibly a year when it comes to a car accident settlement.
There is the opportunity to speed up that process by gathering bills, medical records, and documentation of lost wages on your own. It might even be easier to retrieve all this on your own than relying on your attorney.
The thing is, you’ll likely be waiting about a year or two after maximum medical improvement if you want the absolute best settlement. If you’re happy with a decent number, then you’re looking at a handful of months on average.
If you do want the best settlement, you’ll need to be patient. There’s a lot of back and forth and negotiation strategy that goes into fighting for the best possible settlement. You could potentially say that you’re not willing to accept an offer and that you’ll take the case to trial.
Insurance companies aren’t fans of trials, so they’ll likely raise the settlement to avoid this.
You may not want to wait. You can avoid the frustration by simply accepting the smaller settlement.
What Determines How Long a Case Takes?
There are different reasons why some cases take longer than others, even if they don’t seem all that different.
The first is that there might be legal or factual issues. Although it’s ideal to have as much evidence as possible after a car accident, it may not have been possible. If liability is difficult to prove or if the insurance company doesn’t think there’s a claim, this can add some time.
There might also be disagreements about whether the other driver’s recklessness was the reason for your injuries.
The amount of money also determines the length of a case. When large amounts of money are at stake, insurance companies will do everything to avoid paying that. Even certain insurance companies will wait for you to run out of patience and accept a smaller settlement.
Finally, things will take longer if the maximum medical improvement hasn’t been reached. This is important to determine the final cost of injuries, so if you’re not at that point yet, it will delay your case.
Work With Your Attorney
The right car accident attorney will work with you to ensure that you get the best settlement without having to wait too long. Be sure to keep your lawyer informed of all the medical treatments and doctor appointments so that they can stay updated with all the bills and records. You’ll want attorneys who keep detailed track of your documents, updating them as often as required.
Also, remember that those medical records will be given to the insurance company. This might also include records that were established before your car accident. This is all used by the insurance company to determine the value of your case.
Understanding everything that goes into each car accident claim will help you understand the process better. This means you’ll have a better idea of how long your case will take.
How Long Does a Car Accident Case Take?
Nobody wants to be involved in a car accident. It is frightening and can alter your life negatively. It doesn’t help that the legal action following a car accident is so complicated.
If you’ve recently been in a car accident, you may be wondering how long your car accident case will take.
Many factors go into that answer, and there’s no one-size-fits-all. However, you can get a good idea by looking at the different circumstances involving your case. The right lawyer will also give you a better idea of what to expect.
Looking for the right lawyer to help you after you’ve been in a car accident? Then you’ll want to contact us! We can answer any questions you have or set up a consultation.