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.
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.