Car accident settlements can take a long time because there may be disagreements about who caused the accident. Also, insurance companies might not agree on the amount of money you should receive. Complicated injuries and lots of paperwork can also slow things down, and the legal process itself can be slow.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident, an Edwardsville, Illinois car accident attorney will help guide you through the process and fight for the compensation you deserve.
Car accidents can take a long time to settle for the following reasons:
- Sometimes, it’s not clear who was at fault in the accident. This can lead to long discussions and investigations.
- Insurers might disagree on the amount of money. The insurance companies involved might argue about how much money should be paid out.
- Your injuries might be complicated. If you were hurt in the accident, it might take time to understand how serious your injuries are and how they will affect you in the future.
- There could be a lot of paperwork. Car accident cases often involve a lot of documents and information that need to be collected and reviewed.
- The legal process can be slow. If your case goes to court, it can take even longer because of all the steps involved in a lawsuit.
Length of Medical Treatment
One big reason your settlement might take a while is the length of your medical treatment. After a car accident, you might need to see doctors, have tests done, or even have surgery. All of this takes time.
Don’t rush your medical treatment just to get your settlement faster. Your health comes first! Your lawyers and the insurers need to know how badly you were hurt and how long it will take you to get better. This helps them figure out how much money you should get.
Sometimes, doctors need to wait and see how well you recover before they can say for sure how the accident will affect you in the long run. This waiting period can make your settlement take longer, but it’s necessary to make sure you get the right amount of money for your injuries.
Collecting Medical Bills & Records, And Other Evidence
Another reason your settlement might take a while is the time it takes to collect all the necessary information. This includes:
- Your medical bills
- Your medical records
- Police report about the accident
- Statements from witnesses
- Pictures of the accident scene and your injuries
- Information about work missed because of the accident
Gathering all of this information can take a lot of time. Your lawyer needs to contact different doctors, hospitals, and other people to get all the records and bills. Sometimes, these places are slow to send the information, which can delay your case.
Your Auto crash lawyer also needs to review all of this information carefully. They want to make sure they have everything they need to prove how the accident affected you and how much money you should get.
Negotiations & Litigation
Once all the information is collected, your lawyer will start negotiating with the insurance company. This is when they try to agree on how much money you should get for your injuries and other losses.
Negotiations can take a long time. Your lawyer will make an offer, and the insurance company might make a counteroffer. This back-and-forth can go on for a while until both sides agree on an amount.
If the insurance company won’t offer a fair amount, your lawyer might decide to file a lawsuit. Litigation can take even longer than negotiations because it involves going to court and following all the court’s rules and schedules.
Paying Outstanding Bills
Before you can get your settlement money, there might be some bills that need to be paid first. These could include:
- Medical bills that haven’t been paid yet
- Money owed to your health insurance company
- Lawyer fees
Your lawyer will help figure out which bills need to be paid from your settlement. This process can add some time to your case, but it’s important to make sure everything is paid correctly.
Get Help With Your Car Accident Case From an Edwardsville, Illinois Injury Attorney
If you’re frustrated with how long your car accident settlement is taking, it’s time to get experienced help. Our Walton Telken Injury Attorneys will guide you through the process, answer your questions, and work hard to get you the best possible settlement.
Call us at (618) 272-2284 or contact us online for a free case evaluation today. Let us handle the hard work while you focus on healing.
With over 150 years of combined legal experience, we passionately fight for victims’ rights and strive to achieve the best possible outcomes for our clients. Troy E. Walton and Stephen J. Telken understand the immense challenges faced after an injury, and we’re committed to helping you recover the maximum monetary damages for your physical, financial, and emotional losses. Real practice is in our DNA, and we’re unafraid to aggressively advocate on your behalf to ensure you receive the compensation you
deserve.
