A car accident claim can be surprisingly complex, even when negligence and liability seem obvious to you. Many factors can affect the settlement timeline, including the at-fault party’s actions, their insurance company’s evidence review process, your recovery timeline, the amount of your compensation request, and the number of rounds of settlement negotiations.
If you or a loved one suffered injuries in a recent car crash, a car accident lawyer in Fort Lauderdale can help you understand how long it might take to reach a fair settlement. They can also identify factors that can streamline the process as much as possible. With a free claim evaluation, you can learn more about why your car accident settlement is taking so long and how a personal injury attorney can provide clarity and direction.
Factors That Can Affect How Long it Takes to Settle a Car Accident Claim
After a car accident, you might hope for a swift settlement so you can pay your medical bills, get your car repaired or replaced, and start putting your life back together.
All these things can happen—but they can take time. If you are handling your car accident claim alone, it can be hard to understand each of the phases that contribute to the timeline. If a personal injury attorney in Fort Lauderdale represents you, they can provide clarity and direction each step of the way.
How Comparative Negligence Laws Affect the Timeline of a Settlement
Sometimes, a car accident is simple—one driver is clearly at fault for striking another car. In other cases, a crash can have multiple at-fault parties, creating confusion and complexities that make resolving the claim take more time.
This can happen in chain reaction crashes and other multi-vehicle collisions. It can also happen when both drivers in a two-car accident contribute to its cause, triggering Florida’s comparative negligence laws.
Accidents That Cause Catastrophic Injuries or Fatalities Can Take Longer
When a car accident victim suffers injuries severe enough to require long-term, potentially lifelong, care, it can take longer to assess their recovery time and costs. You may want to wait until you reach maximum medical improvement to accept a settlement to ensure it will cover all your medical treatment costs. This is another reason why a car accident settlement takes time.
A speedy settlement may not accurately compensate an injured party if the total costs of the accident and their prognosis are not clear. In a case like this, a car accident settlement delay can help you avoid undervalued or underpaid compensation.
Investigating an Accident and Collecting Substantive Evidence Can Take Time
The car accident claim process starts with collecting evidence that proves the accident’s causes, contributing factors, and costs. A detailed investigation can take attention to detail and time. Collecting the following evidence can also take time:
- Accident report
- Medical records
- Injury photos
- Accident scene photos
- Witness statements
Evidence of the accident’s costs can include proof of income, car repair and replacement estimates, medical expenses, and more. A lawyer can compile the evidence your claim needs and submit it with a settlement demand letter.
The Benefits of Hiring a Car Accident Attorney to Reach a Settlement Agreement
The settlement process after an auto accident can take time since many people play a role in negotiations. It typically involves the following steps:
- Your personal injury attorney will submit your compensation request to the at-fault driver’s insurance company
- The insurance adjuster will evaluate your claim and agree to a settlement or make a counteroffer
This process could repeat itself several times before reaching an agreement. You, too, play a role in this process since the final settlement decision is yours to make. An experienced car accident lawyer can help you make a well-informed decision and seek maximum compensation.
The Cost of Hiring a Lawyer to Deal With the Insurance Provider
Knowing when to hire a personal injury lawyer is as important as knowing the benefits of hiring one in the first place. The best time to put an auto accident lawyer to work on your claim is as soon as possible.
It costs nothing upfront or out of your pocket, and you only compensate your personal injury law firm if they get compensation for you. The sooner they get started, the more time they’ll have to conduct a thorough investigation, interview witnesses while their memories are fresh, and evaluate and preserve evidence.
Types of Recoverable Damages Included in a Car Accident Settlement
Florida Statutes § 768.81 describes the types of damages you can recover for a negligence-based car accident. Damages your motor vehicle accident lawyer will request for you may include:
- Economic damages—Current and future medical bills, lost wages, future earning capacity, and property damage, destruction, or diminished value
- Non-economic damages—Lasting disability, disfigurement, physical pain and suffering, mental and emotional anguish, and diminished quality of life
- Wrongful death damages—Funeral and burial expenses, loss of financial and familial support, and loss of consortium, companionship, and guidance
Accurately assessing your compensation request is one of the good reasons for a car accident settlement delay. An experienced lawyer can help you understand and recover all the damages you are entitled to receive.
State Law Influences the Time You Have to File a Car Accident Lawsuit
According to Florida Statutes § 95.11, you generally have two years to file a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit in Florida. Failure to meet the filing deadline could leave you with no available legal remedy that compels the at-fault driver to compensate you. An experienced attorney can file your lawsuit on time and in the appropriate venue.
Call (954) 633-8270 to Learn More About the Auto Accident Settlement Timeline
If you want help resolving a car accident claim as quickly as possible, our law firm will fight hard to optimize your financial recovery. Find out how hard we will work to reach the best possible solution for you.
Get started on the road to compensation today with a free consultation from one of our team members at the Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato.
