How Long Does a Car Accident Settlement Take?

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How Long Will My Car Accident Claim Take to Settle?

Nov 17, 2021

A car accident can be a devastating experience that leaves an injured victim facing a long and difficult road to recovery. In addition to the physical pain and suffering that can often accompany a motor vehicle collision, injured victims can face emotional trauma, lost wages, and a diminished quality of life. All of this, of course, can be in addition to hospital and medical bills, as well as rehabilitation expenses.

How Long Does a Car Accident Settlement Take?

When you’re injured in a car accident, recovering financial compensation can be critical in helping cover the costs involved in the recovery process, especially if you’re facing a loss of income. Injured victims often ask Dordulian Law Group’s (DLG) car accident lawyers one common question during the free consultation phase: How long will my car accident claim take to settle?

This blog will review the process of recovering financial compensation after a car accident, as well as what’s involved in obtaining a settlement. Additionally, we’ll look at what types of damages may be included in a car accident financial settlement, and discuss how to file a personal injury claim with DLG in pursuit of the maximum compensation you deserve.

What is a Car Accident Demand Letter?

In a car accident claim, a demand letter serves as an official document outlining the facts and circumstances of the incident, details of any medical treatment that may have been required as a result of an injury, and a formal request to begin negotiations with the insurance company or at-fault party with the intent of recovering financial compensation. The demand letter is one of the most important steps in the car accident claims process, as it can be the singular factor that compels an insurance provider or at-fault driver to issue a maximum damages award to the injured victim.

Can I Write My Own Car Accident Demand Letter?

An injured victim who has been harmed by another driver’s negligence is free to write his or her own demand letter seeking the financial compensation they need to make a full recovery. However, there are a few points that injured car accident victims may want to consider first:

  • Many car accident victims endure hospitalizations and long-term pain and suffering that can make writing a demand letter not only a burden but an impossibility.
  • Many car accident victims may overlook critical details that could adversely impact a final settlement amount.
  • Many car accident victims may not factor in the long-term costs of medical care and non-economic damages that are difficult to quantify, such as pain and suffering or emotional trauma.
  • Many car accident victims may be intimidated by insurance companies and pushed into accepting an unfair settlement offer.
  • Car insurance companies are in the business of making money, and that often means minimizing claims from injured car accident victims and reducing damages wherever possible.
  • Car insurance companies are busy (so they say), and may be more likely to respond to a demand letter issued by a licensed personal injury attorney rather than an injured victim.

These are just a few of the reasons why injured car accident victims are strongly encouraged to:

  • Never make a statement to the insurance company without first consulting with a qualified and experienced personal injury/car accident lawyer.
  • Never admit fault or sign a document issued by the insurance company without first speaking to a car accident attorney.
  • Never accept a settlement offer without first consulting a car accident lawyer.

Will Hiring a Lawyer Increase My Car Accident Settlement?

Injured car accident victims are urged to always consult with an experienced car accident lawyer before speaking to the insurance company or accepting any settlement, and there’s hard data to support such a recommendation.

For example:

The Insurance Research Council (IRC) recently conducted a study which confirmed the following:

  • Settlements for injured claimants were 40% higher when they had secured private legal representation.
  • The average insurance payout was 3.5 times higher for injured victims who hired private attorneys (when compared to those representing themselves).
  • 85% of all money paid by insurance companies for bodily injuries is received by victims who have secured representation from a private personal injury attorney.

But beyond the above statistics, it’s important to note that having a skilled and proven car accident lawyer fighting for you can help ensure that your final settlement amount includes all applicable damages – including those that often require legal expertise to prove, such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, reduced quality of life, and more. These types of damages are often denied by major auto insurance providers, which can make the full recovery process for injured car accident victims – physical, emotional, and financial – difficult if not impossible.

How Long Does it Take to Settle a Car Accident Insurance Claim?

While there is no exact timeframe for how long it may take an injured victim to settle their car accident claim and recover a damages award, certain factors can help offer a general estimate. After a claim is filed, some car accident victims receive their settlement awards within one to three months. Typically, those cases are less complex and involve easily proven liability on the part of the at-fault driver.

With that in mind, some factors that can impact the length of time it may take for a car accident victim to recover a settlement include:

  • The facts of the incident (whether they are straightforward or more complex)
  • The extent of a victim’s injuries
  • The extent of liability on the part of the other driver
  • Whether any evidence is gathered to support the injured victim’s claim (one of the reasons why DLG employs an in-house investigator who is a retired 30-year LAPD detective)
  • Whether or not the injured victim is represented by a lawyer
  • The skill and experience level of a victim’s car accident attorney
  • Whether multiple parties were involved in the car accident
  • Whether the insurance provider is open to negotiation
  • Whether a police report was filed
  • Whether the demand letter is written clearly and effectively

What is a Fair Settlement Amount for My Car Accident Injury Claim?

One of the most important reasons why it is recommended that injured victims at least consult with a licensed and proven personal injury lawyer is because an estimate of how much your claim might be worth can be provided by an experienced professional. Car accident lawyers like Sam Dordulian and his team have decades of experience helping injured victims recover maximum financial compensation for their motor vehicle collision claims.

Unfortunately, we often see injured car accident victims accept unfair offers due to their inexperience with the claims process and an understandable lack of knowledge regarding how much things like medical care and pain and suffering are actually worth.

But car accident lawyers are only able to assist you with such important issues before you accept a settlement from the insurance company. Sadly, many injured car accident victims contact us after accepting settlements from insurance companies due to the amounts being insufficient for all applicable losses they’ve endured.

When you contact a member of DLG’s Car Accident Division, we’ll review the facts of your case, launch a thorough investigation led by our in-house Chief Investigator and retired LAPD Central Traffic Division detective, Moses Castillo, and provide an estimate for how much your claim may be worth. Our consultations are always free and without any obligation.

Ready to file a claim and pursue justice through a financial damages award? Our expert attorneys are available online or by phone now.

What Damages are Recoverable in a Car Accident Settlement?

Damages can vary from case-to-case and will depend largely on the facts of the incident and severity of your car accident injury. Some common damages that may be recoverable after a car accident injury include:

  • Hospital and medical bills
  • Rehabilitation costs
  • Pain and suffering
  • Physical therapy costs
  • Lost wages
  • Lost earning capacity
  • Reduced quality of life
  • Psychological distress
  • Emotional trauma

With DLG, injured car accident victims can be confident that we will fight to recover all applicable damages and work tirelessly to secure you the maximum financial compensation you deserve.

Our 98% success record and history of recovering more than $200 million in settlements and verdicts for injured victims like you offers our clients peace of mind. With DLG, you’re never a number, and we promise to provide you with the utmost respect, dedication, and professionalism throughout the car accident claims process.

Contact us today at 818-322-4056 for a free consultation. There is no fee until we successfully recover you a maximum financial damages award for your car accident injury.

Author

Samuel Dordulian

Samuel Dordulian, founder

Sam Dordulian is an award-winning sexual abuse lawyer with over 25 years' experience helping survivors secure justice. As a former sex crimes prosecutor and Deputy District Attorney for L.A. County, he secured life sentences against countless sexual predators. Mr. Dordulian currently serves on the National Leadership Council for RAINN.




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