Victims of automobile collisions often wonder the same thing. How long does receiving a settlement cheque following a car accident take? Or, “what’s the holdup with my settlement?”
It’s clear why you want to know when you may expect to get payment from your insurance provider. Because I’m sure the vehicle accident was harrowing for you, you want to put it in the past. You should also get as much money as possible as rapidly as possible. If you want to know more, pop over to this site.
An Explanation Of The Eight Steps Involved In Auto Accident Settlements
Let us now talk about the eight steps involved in auto accident settlements.
First Step: Proceed To Medical Attention (1-12 Months)
Getting the medical attention you need after being in a car crash can take some time, but it’s time well spent. If you don’t, it could put back your medical treatment, personal injury claim, and your chance of getting fair payment.
Sticking to your treatment plan as advised by your doctors is essential if you want to maximise your chances of making a complete recovery or MMI. This can take a few weeks to several months, depending on your injuries.
Second Step: Have a legal professional assess your situation (2-6 MONTHS)
When you reach MMI (maximum medical improvement), your attorney will start gathering evidence to substantiate your damages. Your lawyer will need to look at medical records and invoices, estimates for property damage, proof of lost wages, and any other out-of-pocket costs incurred.
The time required to collect this evidence varies widely, depending on the evaluated treatment, but typically ranges from two to six months. Your attorney will better grasp the situation and be better prepared to advise you if you respond quickly with the needed information.
Third Step: Write a Demand Letter (4-6 WEEKS)
After you’re done with treatment and the damages have been calculated, your lawyer will try to settle your claim out of court through negotiation. Usually, they will send a demand, and after four to six weeks, they will get a response.
Fourth Step: Make a claim on your insurance (2-4 WEEKS)
If your legal dispute cannot be settled outside of court, your attorney will draft a complaint you can review and approve before launching a lawsuit. A copy will be filed and delivered to each defendant. From that point forward, Defendant(s) will have 20 days to respond.
Just because you’ve filed a lawsuit doesn’t mean you’ll automatically get a trial. Only a fraction of such instances indeed occurs. Settlements are possible at any time, even during a trial.
Fifth Step: Advance to Discovery (6-12 MONTHS)
Your lawsuit’s progression will be affected by several variables, including the jurisdiction in which it is filed, the number of defendants, and the complexity of the issues at stake. The parties to a lawsuit can learn more about each other and the merits of any claims or counterclaims during the discovery phase of the case.
If you hire a good lawyer, they will guide you through these processes to ensure that the information you provide is comprehensive, accurate, and presents your case favorably. Depending on the situation’s specifics, this could take as long as a year.
Sixth Step: Conciliate and bargain (2-4 WEEKS)
As soon as the discovery is finished, all information is available for everybody to see. Your lawyer may suggest a neutral third-party process like arbitration or mediation now. Here, each side can hear the other’s arguments and decide how to proceed in negotiations.
Seventh Step: Advance To The Trial (1-3 Days)
If you cannot reach a settlement and the matter goes to trial, expect it to last at least two days.
Eighth Step: Settle
Getting to a settlement is one option for finishing your case. However, if you opt for settlement, you should expect to receive your settlement check within 30 days of signing and returning the release agreement.
What happens next if you sign a release form as part of a settlement?
A settlement release is a document signed by the plaintiff after settling a personal injury lawsuit. The plaintiff will waive further legal action on the underlying accident in the release. Before the defendant’s insurance company releases the settlement cheque, the plaintiff must sign and submit this form.
This Release Form and Why You Should Sign It
Generally, a settlement release safeguards the negligent or at-fault party. It’s utilized in vehicle accident claims to ensure the at-fault party can’t be sued twice for the same damage.
After settling with the insurance company for the at-fault party after a cheap car accident, you will likely be required to sign a settlement release form. With this agreement in place, the insurance company will be shielded from any claims arising from the incident.
Conclusion
Your injury attorney hustles to get you a settlement as soon as possible so you can get the money you deserve. Yet a competent and experienced automobile accident attorney knows that settling too quickly can result in a substantially smaller payment for the client. Therefore, the lawyer balances efficiency and thoroughness to secure the most compensation possible for a client’s cheapest car accident claim.
