A lot of paperwork and documentation are involved in settling a personal injury claim after a car accident. Depending on the details and complexity of the situation it could take as little as a few months or as long as several years to resolve a claim. Various factors have the potential to delay or expedite a personal injury settlement. For more information on the likelihood of your claim being wrapped up quickly speak with a San Mateo County, California motor vehicle accident lawyer.
What Factors Can Delay My Personal Injury Settlement?
Lack of evidence
To successfully negotiate a settlement agreement you need to prove that the other party caused the accident and that the accident resulted in your injuries or damages. If you cannot locate some evidence then it could hinder the process. Medical records are vital during the beginning stages of the settlement process, so if you neglected to seek medical attention soon after the accident it could delay an agreement.
Severity of injuries or damage
A more minor crash with few to no injuries or damage will generally result in a simpler and more time-efficient settlement. However, if your injuries are quite severe then there will be more documentation, more medical records to examine, higher amounts of compensation to consider, etc. The more serious the damages the longer it will typically take to agree to a settlement.
Complexity of the case
Unsurprisingly, the more complex the claim is the longer it will take to settle. If there are multiple parties involved or there are disputes over liability or other details, it can be difficult to get the case resolved in a timely manner.
Insurance provider issues
Even if the settlement is agreed upon it can take a while for the funds to be distributed or received. Insurance companies may attempt to offer lowball numbers to keep profits high which could delay the settlement if you have to continue negotiating back and forth. Once a number is decided it may have to go through several channels and be reviewed on multiple levels before it is officially submitted.
Administrative delays
There may also be general, miscellaneous delays. Other cases may come up and your attorney may neglect to sign documents for a few days or weeks, you could have an unrelated emergency and forget to get back to a party, information could slip through the cracks, etc. Dozens of people have hands on a personal injury settlement and to err is human.
If you are pursuing compensation through a personal injury insurance claim, many factors contribute to the amount of time it takes to resolve the issue. While most cases are settled within one year, yours may take longer depending on a variety of issues. Speak with an experienced attorney to learn more about the ins and outs of a personal injury claim.
