If you are the victim of a car accident, you are probably anxious to settle your claim quickly, so you can pay expensive medical bills and get on with your life. While an experienced car accident attorney can give you an idea of how long it will take to resolve your claim, there are many factors that may cause your case to take longer than you would like. Timeframe for settling a car accident claim

Factors That Affect Settling a Motor Vehicle Accident Claim

The majority of car accident cases settle without the need to go to jury trial. Some may settle without filing a lawsuit while others must be aggressively litigated before the insurance company decides to be reasonable. Here are some factors that can determine how long it takes to resolve a case:  

Your medical recovery.

How quickly you heal from your injuries will impact the length of time it takes to settle your case. It’s important to wait until you reach your medical maximum improvement—the stage of your treatment where you have fully recovered or have recovered to the point where your doctor can give you a final prognosis—before settling. At that point, you’ll have a tally of your medical expenses, have the total of your lost wages, and know the pain and suffering you’ve endured, all of which will be included in the amount you receive.

Larger claim.

If you suffered more severe injuries or a permanent disability, the value of your claim will be higher. The insurance company will investigate your claim more thoroughly and may not dispute or try to reduce or deny your claim.

Disputes.

If you have serious disputes about who caused your crash or the extent of your injuries, it will take your attorney longer to resolve them and settle your claim for what you deserve.

Insurance company.

Some insurance companies have a reputation for being more difficult to negotiate with and may take longer to respond to your attorney’s initial demand letter and other offers of settlement. They may do this in an effort to wear you down and get you to accept less than you are entitled to.

Have You Been Injured In A Car Accident?

If you've been hurt in a car accident you need to speak to an experienced car accident lawyer as soon as possible. Please contact us online or call our Warwick office directly at 401.946.3200 to schedule your free consultation. We help accident victims in Providence, Warwick and all areas of Rhode Island.

 

Christopher L. Russo
Helping Rhode Island personal injury victims for nearly three decades to get the compensation they deserve.