How Long Does the Average Car Accident Claim Take to Settle?

Car accidents can cause various degrees of injury, pain, and suffering. Depending on your injuries, other damages, and the factors that caused the accident to occur, it may be possible to file a legal claim against the at-fault driver. Your claim can seek compensation for medical bills, lost wages, property damage, and other costs that were caused by the collision.

Filing a claim against the person who is liable for your car wreck is one possible way for you to get justice for the hardship they caused. Since each case is different, it could take weeks, months, or even years to settle a car accident claim. Keep reading to find out what can prolong a case.

Factors that can Delay Your Case

Court cases are unpredictable, which can make your life harder in the meantime. Waiting for your claim to come to a settlement can be grueling when you have other responsibilities. Whether those are household, work, or financial obligations, your case can take up a lot of your time.

Even though most insurers in the U.S. are required to make a reasonable settlement offer within 60 days, as noted by The Law Dictionary, that doesn’t mean that your case will be settled within that time. Plenty of scenarios can extend your lawsuit. Here are some factors that can make your car accident claim take longer to settle:

• Medical treatment. If you are still undergoing medical treatment, your case could take longer to settle. Since your medical records are an important part of your case, if they are still being documented, it’ll take longer to calculate damages. If your injuries are serious, settlement could also take longer because you want to wait until the severity of your injuries are fully observed.
• Limited information. Your case thrives when there is plenty of information available. If there isn’t a lot of information, the lawsuit can drag out or end without settlement because liability can’t be proven, or your injuries weren’t documented enough.
• Insurance company. One of the first things you want to do after a car accident is contact either the at-fault driver’s insurance company or your own. Depending on the details, the insurance company needs to determine the demand package and how much money in damages that can be recovered. Sometimes the company will take longer to do this in hopes that you’ll drop the case from it taking so long.
• Big settlement. When your case could have a big settlement, insurance companies and other parties will take their time before giving you a lot of money. Insurers might even ask you for more proof of your injuries before settling because they want to make sure they’re giving out the right amount of money.

A personal injury lawyer can help you through this process by getting you the compensation you deserve. They can guide you through the legal proceedings and tell you whether an offered settlement is adequate or not. It’s beneficial to have a lawyer on your side in a car accident lawsuit so that you have the best possible chance at winning.

Apply for Funding for Free

A car accident claim can take a long time to reach a settlement. Sometimes you don’t have that time because you have payments to make on your medical bills, mortgage, and other bills. Instead of rushing to a settlement that is less than you deserve, you can get funding elsewhere. Preferred Capital Funding can help you when you need money immediately to offset the financial stress caused by a car accident. Fill out an application for funding today so that you aren’t struggling before your settlement.