How long does a car accident settlement take? A car accident settlement can take anywhere from a few weeks to years, depending on several factors in your specific case.
To have a better sense of the timeline for your car accident case, you should talk with a Charlottesville car accident lawyer as soon as possible.
Settlements Come from Negotiations, Which have Different Timelines than Trials
If we are seeking a car accident settlement, we will need to talk with you about how to negotiate a personal injury settlement. This will include ensuring your car accident attorney has a clear understanding of all the damages you have suffered, being assertive at the negotiation table, and allowing us to handle the hard work of securing your settlement. This is all different from a full trial.
A full trial entails the entire array of hoops we would have to jump through as part of the court process. We would have to deal with court appearance dates being worked into that court’s already very busy schedule, which could put huge delays between each step. And then, there is all the time taken out of your day to appear in court for however long that day’s session takes.
With negotiations, we have much more say in the process. We can work directly with the defense, their insurance, and a mediator or other qualified neutral as set forth by Code of Virginia § 8.01-576.8. and Code of Virginia § 8.01-581.21.-§ 8.01-581.26. This allows us to have a bigger part in setting our schedule and advocating to work more on our terms, while expediting the process of reaching an agreement.
For a legal consultation with a personal injury lawyer, call 434-817-3100
The Amount of Evidence Heavily Influences How Long a Car Accident Settlement Takes
If you come to your lawyer with an abundance of clear evidence in hand, then a lot of the lengthy work is essentially done, meaning we can proceed with the later steps. However, how long a car accident settlement takes may be much longer if there are unforeseen complications.
Finding evidence will take much more work than a couple of Google searches for 4 ways to prove fault in a personal injury case. We will need to review all possible sources of media evidence, including footage captured by nearby cameras. We will also need to find, make contact with, and interview any potential witnesses to the accident.
Any single piece of evidence could take weeks to actually obtain if there are steps in place to obtain it through legal means. Documents can notoriously get tangled up in bureaucracy, and some evidence is even inadmissible, like polygraph results, according to Code of Virginia § 8.01-418.2. Most of Virginia’s list of evidence laws is available in Code of Virginia Title 8.01. Chapter 14.
The Length of Settlement Negotiations Depends on How Agreeable All Parties Are
If you have ever argued with a stubborn child, you know that you could waste an entire day trying to get them to do something that they do not want to do. A similar idea holds true when dealing with a defendant who is unwilling to work towards finding a fair compromise. If we all stay on the same page, however, we can settle for a relatively short amount of time.
The other driver in your accident may be convinced, either through their own perception of events or the counsel of their attorney, that they can either dodge liability altogether or at least whittle down the damages. This stubborn stance turns the whole process into a back-and-forth between us and the defense team through a mediator. Bogging things down by arguing every small point could take months.
Hopefully, by presenting a good collection of solid evidence, there is simply no room for the defense to attempt to poke holes in the case. Instead, the negotiation is simply for both parties to ensure everything is done thoroughly and in accordance with the rules. By avoiding the fantasy that the other driver thinks they can dodge liability to some degree, the length of a car accident settlement can be shortened.
How Long a Car Accident Settlement Takes Could Come Down to Insurance
The at-fault driver’s insurance may attempt to dispute the facts of the accident or try to understate their estimates compared to the amount of damages we assessed. Teaming up with a legal team like MartinWren, P.C., which has already helped thousands of clients, is a great way to stand up to their tactics and hold firm to the compensation you deserve. Insurance companies should not swindle you out of recovery.
Insurance companies will use their own appraisal of the damages from the accident to determine their own monetary figure. Initially, we may not agree on the amount or the severity of the damages. While they are motivated to save the company money, we are even more motivated to fight for the compensation you deserve.
Although the defense may have reached an agreement with us, this process could still drag out as we negotiate with the insurance company. In the end, the facts are the facts, and we will work tirelessly to make sure the facts stand. Through our experience, we understand their tactics and know how to overcome them.
Ask a MatrinWren, P.C. Car Accident Lawyer How Long a Car Settlement Takes
Any number of factors can greatly influence the length of time your case will take to reach a settlement. With accidents, we are dealing with a defendant’s willingness to cooperate, insurance companies operating on their own timeline, the court system, and how long it takes to search for and analyze the evidence for your case.
For all your car accident claim questions, talk with MartinWren, P.C. about your case. We can meet you where you are, even virtually, to help you figure out how long does a car accident settlement takes. Let us help you make your car accident settlement as quick, smooth, and fulfilling as we can.
Call 434-817-3100 or complete a Case Evaluation form
