How Long Will It Take To Be Paid For My Injuries After An Auto Accident? After the dust and debris settle from a car crash, you may be wondering how long it will take you to get your rightfully owed compensation for damages. This process depends on several factors, some of which may be beyond your control.
Straightforward crashes can be settled in a matter of weeks. Following the negotiations and depending on your insurance company, the payout can be delivered on average within several weeks after a settlement.
However, if the crash is significantly complicated, or if there are severe injuries, or if it is unclear who is at fault, it may take significantly longer. This is because the insurance companies and law firms will have to conduct their own deeper investigations and hold mediation/negotiations.
After the crash, both insurance companies will negotiate back and forth. This can be a quick process, or a long and drawn-out one; it usually depends on how clear the facts are. Oftentimes, a well-articulated police report and investigation can indicate who was at fault in the auto accident. However, sometimes an insurance company will plant their feet in the ground and disagree that their policyholder was at fault.
When this happens, personal injury attorneys will advocate for their clients to receive adequate compensation. This, of course, impacts how long it will take to be paid for your injuries after an auto accident.
Typically, our firm will operate on a contingency basis. This means that we will not get paid until we gather a settlement for you. Once the payout is sent from the insurance company, we will take out our fees and deliver your compensation to you. We operate in this manner because we know that paying upfront for costly legal fees can be extremely stressful and challenging.
If we are operating on a retainer basis for your car crash case, you would provide us with a sum of money from which we would bill.
Regardless of how your payout is sent to you, we will explain the process in clear and easily understandable steps. We know that dealing with insurance companies can become convoluted, and we will make sure to keep you well informed of the process, timelines, and expectations.
There are a variety of injuries that may manifest or linger long after a crash has occurred. Some of them include TBIs/Concussions, internal bleeding, whiplash, and others. If you find that injuries are persisting after a crash, there are some steps you can take.
The wisest step you can take initially is to speak with a personal injury attorney before accepting the first settlement offer. This is because it is possible that you may waive your right to file a lawsuit later on if newly discovered injuries reveal themselves or persist.
Insurance companies may sometimes move fast in a case to offer you a quick settlement. This is because insurance companies make their money by offering smaller settlements promptly before lingering injuries, such as persistent headaches or TBIs, can be traced back to the accident. If the at-fault driver’s insurance company comes to you with a quick settlement, be sure to consult with an experienced personal injury attorney before accepting it. Backing out of a settlement can be very challenging; therefore, it is wiser to take your steps slowly before accepting anything.
If new injuries are discovered, or you find that you will need more medical treatment than initially thought, a personal injury attorney from our Eaton office will be more than happy to help you.
At Kruger & Hodges, we have spent years helping clients through their injuries. We know the process is stressful, complex, and burdensome. Whether you are dealing with a difficult insurance company, or want to know when you’ll finally receive your payout, we are available for a free consultation.
