It is impossible to say exactly when you will start getting paid from your car accident settlement. Each car accident case is different, and various elements factor into how fast you can receive compensation. One of the determining factors revolves around whether or not your car accident attorney must bring your case to trial.
For example, some cases settle before ever going to trial. Victims usually begin seeking compensation through an insurance claim, which a lawyer can also help you with. If negotiations with insurers go smoothly, you may receive your settlement sooner than if you file a lawsuit and present your case in a trial to a jury or judge.
If your attorney cannot convince the insurers to settle for what they believe to be fair compensation in your case, it may take longer for you to receive compensation since they must then file a personal injury lawsuit.
Dealing with the Insurance Company
Even after filing a personal injury lawsuit, the insurance company may decide to settle before the case makes it to trial. Settling before a trial is preferred because it could result in a speedier resolution of your case.
Regardless, you do not want to rush and settle for an amount that does not fairly cover your losses. Car accidents can result in exorbitant medical bills, lost wages, and current and future pain and suffering. You want to make sure you seek a settlement that will fairly address these expenses and losses.
Consult the office of a personal injury attorney to help you get an estimate of how long your individual case will take to settle.
The Process of Seeking Fair Compensation
After experiencing a car accident, the first order of business is to seek medical attention so you can understand the full extent of your injuries. For example, the Mayo Clinic notes that whiplash, a common injury experienced in car accidents, can take weeks to manifest symptoms.
This is important because you do not want to get stuck with a settlement offer that does not cover long-term medical expenses that will last indefinitely into your future, such as rehabilitative therapy. In the case that you have a temporary or permanent disability, this type of therapy may last a long time and accumulate more medical expenses than you originally anticipated.
How Can a Lawyer Help?
After getting an idea of the extent of your injuries, your lawyer will go to work negotiating with the liable party’s insurance company to seek a settlement that reflects your projected expenses. Negotiations could take some time, and you only have a certain window of opportunity to escalate your case to a lawsuit due to the statute of limitations. This is why it is best to begin the legal process as soon as possible after your accident.
You will want to give your lawyer as much time as possible to negotiate with insurers. If your lawyer believes you will be best served by filing a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit, they will have to take time to handle the paperwork and send notice to the appropriate parties.
From there, negotiations may continue. Hopefully, the liable party will offer you fair compensation before your lawyer has to bring your case to trial.
Going to Trial
If your lawyer must represent you in a trial, it could be some time before you start getting paid from your car accident settlement. Trials need to be scheduled by the court, and after a trial, the judge will determine a timeframe within which the liable party must compensate you.
Once again, there is no average amount of time this process takes since each car accident case involves unique circumstances that affect a trial’s pacing. It could be weeks or months before you start getting paid from your car accident settlement.
Your lawyer will work to secure your settlement as soon as possible. The sooner you reach out to them, the sooner they can begin working on your case.
Contact High Stakes Injury Law as Soon as Possible After Your Accident
If you or a loved one experienced a car accident, you are likely dealing with overwhelming expenses, along with lost wages. You do not have to wait to take legal action, though. You can start the process of seeking fair compensation as soon as possible when you contact us.
Furthermore, we do not require you to pay any upfront or out-of-pocket fees for our representation. We take our payment from the potential settlement we secure for you, so you do not have to worry about enduring any additional financial strain after your car accident. To get a better idea of when you will start getting paid from your car accident settlement, give High Stakes Injury Law a call at (702) 444-3228.