How Long Does It Take to Get a Settlement After a Car Accident?
Being involved in a motor vehicle accident claim can take a considerable amount of time to conclude. After you contact a car accident injury lawyer and start a claim, the car accident settlement timeline begins.
The process will depend on several factors, which can include the following:
- Full healing from injuries or maximum medical improvement (MMI)
- Type of injuries sustained
- Whether the “cap” on pain and suffering applies
- The time it takes to receive all of your medical charts
- The time it takes to obtain all of your reports from specialists
- Value of your claim
- Other factors
One of the best ways to determine the value of your claim is to reach out to us via our Contact Us page and schedule a visit with Sangin (Sam) Safi, an Edmonton Personal Injury Lawyer with experience in motor vehicle accident claims. You can also call (780) 760-7234 if you have any questions or to schedule a free initial consultation.
A Typical Timeline for a Car Accident Injury Settlement
There are several factors involved in determining the car accident settlement timeline, which depend on the type of injuries sustained and how long it takes for complete healing or getting back to “normal.”
In many cases, getting back to a state of normalcy is rare. However, if your injuries are relatively minor and you fully recover, settlement can take place around 6 to 9 months after you start your claim.
Typically, you will reach a state of MMI and not see any more improvement. At this point, a car accident injury lawyer will usually order your treatment charts from any doctors or physical therapists you’ve seen. This process will also include obtaining all of your medical diagnostic scans and specialist reports. The timeline to receive this data can take anywhere from 3 to 4 months.
Why Delays Occur When Settling Car Accident Claims
One of the most significant factors that slows down a car accident settlement timeline is due to the “cap” that’s placed on personal injury cases. Insurance companies can have a difficult time negotiating a motor vehicle accident settlement above a minimal amount unless there is sufficient documentation that justifies it.
Sometimes documentation may not be enough and in those cases, the insurance companies can utilize the “Questioning” process where the insurance company’s lawyer can ask you questions about your treatment and injuries. Your injury lawyer will be present at this type of proceeding. It can take up to 3 to 4 years before this process gets started. After that’s finished, most cases will settle. It is very rare for personal injury cases to go to trial.
If you’d like to have your situation evaluated by an experienced personal injury lawyer, be sure to visit our Contact Us page or call us at (780) 760-7234.
The Average Payout for Personal Injury Cases
If you’ve been injured in a car accident, the amount of settlement you can receive will be based on several different types of factors. These might include compensation for:
- General damages (aka “pain and suffering”)
- Future treatment costs
- Past and future wage loss
- Loss of housekeeping capacity
- Loss of consortium
- Out of pocket expenses
- Other factors
When estimating an actual dollar figure on your specific personal injury case, you can see why utilizing an experienced lawyer is essential. They can look at all of these different factors and come up with a fair compensation figure that matches each one. Their experience and expertise in this area provide them with the knowledge and understanding they need to get this done correctly and efficiently for you.
In some circumstances, you may be able to receive low six figures. If the injury you sustained is in the category of spinal cord injury or severe brain injury, the cost of care in the future will be higher than other types of injuries, which could substantiate a larger seven-figure settlement. Your settlement amount is also dependent on all of the factors listed above when deriving a total amount. Again, contact Safi Law Group today to discuss your situation and we’ll provide some insight to help you at this time.
Why Is My Car Accident Settlement Taking So Long?
Finalizing the settlement figure for a car accident can take about half a year if you get back to a “normal” state quickly. Unfortunately, the process usually takes longer for most cases as there are several factors involved, especially if you only recover to a state of MMI.
Ordering and receiving back medical charts, attending treatments and evaluating the progress of your healing can take a considerable amount of time. These are all critical factors, which are included in your final settlement.
How Much Does a Personal Injury Lawyer Earn From Your Settlement?
When you’ve been injured in an automobile accident, the last thing you want to think about is paying out-of-pocket legal fees to a lawyer.
Fortunately, you won’t have to do this as a portion of the settlement you receive will be used to pay a lawyer for their services. This fee will be a percentage of the total value of your claim.
To learn more, feel free to complete our Contact Us page or call us at (780) 760-7234.
