One of the most common questions accident victims ask after a car accident is why their accident settlement process takes so long. Settling personal injury claims, including those from car accidents, can be frustratingly slow.
Understanding the reasons behind these delays can help ease some of that frustration. Collecting evidence and medical records, dealing with insurance adjusters, and reaching a favorable settlement may extend depending on the accident claims.
At Glotzer & Leib, LLP, we aim to provide clear answers and guidance to help you handle the legalities of the settlement process much easier.
The settlement process in personal injury claims, such as a car accident case, involves several stages, each contributing to the overall timeline. These stages include gathering evidence, negotiating with the insurance company, and potentially filing a lawsuit if a fair settlement cannot be reached.
Let’s break down each of these steps and explore why they might cause delays in your accident settlement:
One of the primary reasons your accident settlement might take so long is the need to complete your medical treatment and reach maximum medical improvement or MMI. MMI is the point at which your doctors believe that your medical condition has stabilized. No further significant improvement is expected.
Reaching MMI is important because it lets your personal injury lawyer know the full extent of your injuries and medical expenses.
If you settle your lawsuit before reaching MMI, you might not receive fair compensation for future medical expenses or ongoing care. Serious injuries often require extensive medical treatment. The time it takes to recover can extend the settlement timeline.
Your personal injury attorney will likely advise against settling until your medical condition is fully understood to confirm you get the compensation you deserve.
Medical records are key to your personal injury claim. They write about the nature and extent of your damages or injuries and the treatments you’ve received. The records will also indicate any future medical care you might need. Yet, getting these records can be time-consuming.
Hospitals, doctors, and other healthcare providers may take weeks or months to provide the relevant documentation.
Once your personal injury lawyer has received your medical records, they must carefully review them to build a strong case. This process can take time, especially if serious injuries require multiple treatments from different providers.
If there are discrepancies or missing information in your medical records, your lawyer may need to follow up with healthcare providers, further delaying the settlement process.
Not all car accident cases are straightforward. Some cases involve multiple parties, such as in multi-car accidents or complex legal and factual issues that must be resolved before a settlement can be reached.
For example, if there is a dispute over who was at fault for the accident or questions about the severity of your injuries, the settlement process can be delayed.
In such cases, your experienced car accident lawyer must thoroughly investigate, gather evidence, and potentially consult experts to strengthen your case. This process can be time-consuming but is vital for ensuring fair reimbursement for your injuries.?
Insurance companies play a role in the settlement process, and their tactics can often contribute to delays. Insurance adjusters are trained to reduce or minimize payouts and may employ various strategies to delay settlement talks.
Your personal injury attorney will negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf to secure a reasonable settlement.
However, this negotiation process can take time, especially if the insurance company is not cooperating or is unwilling to offer fair compensation. Further legal action, such as filing a car accident lawsuit, may be needed to push the insurance company toward a favorable outcome.
The settlement process can become even more complicated in car accident cases involving multiple parties, such as multi-vehicle collisions.
Each party involved may have their own insurance companies, legal representatives, and conflicting accounts of the accident. Coordinating between the parties, their respective insurance companies, and legal teams can delay a settlement.
Additionally, if multiple injury claims arise from the same accident, sorting out who is responsible for paying can be lengthy.
Our legal team will strive to handle these legalities and advocate for your legal right to fair compensation. Still, multiple parties’ involvement can inevitably slow the settlement timeline.
Unfortunately, some insurance companies may intentionally delay the settlement process, hoping you’ll become frustrated and accept a lower offer.
These tactics include dragging out negotiations, requesting unnecessary documentation, or repeatedly re-evaluating your claim. While these delays can be frustrating, remain patient and rely on your experienced personal injury lawyer to handle the situation.
Your lawyer’s job is to ensure you get a good settlement that fully compensates you for your medical expenses, lost earnings, and other damages. While it may be tempting to settle early to get the process over with, doing so could leave you with insufficient compensation, especially if future medical care is needed.
Sometimes, the insurance company may refuse a fair settlement despite your lawyer’s best efforts. When this happens, filing a car accident lawsuit may be necessary.
Legal action can extend the settlement timeline, as it involves additional steps such as filing legal documents, attending court hearings, and potentially going to trial.
While the legal process can be time-consuming, it is sometimes the only way to obtain the compensation you deserve. Your experienced lawyer will assist you through each step of the process, ensuring that your case is presented efficiently and your legal rights are protected.
The time frame for settling a car accident case may vary depending on the specifics of your situation.
Some cases may be resolved in a few months, while others can take a year or more. Factors such as the severity of your injuries, the complexity of the case, and the insurance company’s cooperation all play a role in determining how long the settlement process will take.
Your personal injury lawyer will keep you informed during the process and provide you with realistic expectations about the timeline for your case.
While waiting can be frustrating, remember that the goal is to confirm a settlement that fully compensates you for all your damages.
Handling the settlement process after a car accident can be a challenge, especially when dealing with serious injuries and many medical bills. An experienced car accident lawyer will make a great difference in the resolution of your case by:
The following are frequently asked questions regarding car accident settlements:
Factors contributing to delays in the settlement process include the need to achieve maximum medical improvement, the complexity of the case, and insurance company tactics. Your personal injury attorney can help you handle these challenges and work toward a fair settlement.
Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI) occurs when a patient’s condition has stabilized and is unlikely to improve further with additional treatment. The injury or illness has reached a plateau at this stage, and any remaining symptoms or impairments are considered permanent. MMI is often used in workers’ compensation and personal injury cases to determine the extent of a person’s recovery and the need for future care.
Yes, and while settling your claim before reaching MMI is possible, it is generally not advisable. Settling early could result in insufficient compensation for future medical care and other damages.
On average, straightforward cases might settle in 6 to 12 months, while more complex cases could take 18 months or longer. The timeline depends on factors like the severity of injuries, the complexity of the case, and negotiations with insurance companies.
If you believe the insurance company is intentionally delaying your settlement, consult with an experienced personal injury lawyer. Your lawyer can help address these delays and take legal action to secure fair compensation.
Getting a car accident settlement can be lengthy and challenging, but understanding the reasons behind the delays can help you navigate it more effectively. Glotzer & Leib, LLP is dedicated to helping accident victims secure the compensation they deserve.
If you’re experiencing unnecessary delays in your settlement process, or if you have questions about your case, don’t hesitate to contact us for a free consultation.
Our experienced personal injury attorneys will guide you through every step of the process and fight for the fair compensation you deserve. Contact us for a free consultation to start your accident settlement process.
“Mr. Glotzer represented me after I was involved in a car accident. I was badly injured,but the insurance company refused to offer me a reasonable settlement. I decided to find an attorney and decided to hire Josh.
His law firm did a great job on my case. They were very responsive to all my questions and obtained a great resolution for me. I received way more money than was originally offered. I would recommend their firm to friends and family.”
“Mr. Josh Glotzer is a great attorney. Over the last 15 years he has helped me on a number of cases with professionalism, and more importantly a positive outcome in my favor. I have referred him to a number of friends and colleagues, all of which have been equally as happy with his legal representation. I trust him and confident in legal ability. I highly recommend his law firm.”
“Don’t try to deal with insurance companies on your own. They strung me along for almost two years before I gave the case to Glotzer & Leib. Josh and his team quickly obtained a settlement that netted me many times what the insurance company was offering. Thank You!”
“My wife was in a car accident last year and Josh did an amazing job representing her. It’s very refreshing to see someone in his profession that actually cares and puts his clients first. He’s the best in the business and I feel so fortunate that I was referred to him. Keep up the great work and thanks for everything you did for my family!”
“I was in a rear end car accident last year and hired Mr. Glotzer’s office. It wasn’t a big case but their office helped me with my property damage claim and did a good job resolving the injury portion of the case as well.”
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