How Long Does It Usually Take to Get a Settlement From a Car Accident?

Generally speaking, car accident settlements can take anywhere from a few months to well over a year. Many cases resolve somewhere in the 6-to-12-month range, but the actual timeline depends heavily on the complexity of your case, the severity of your injuries, and the insurance company.

If your settlement drags on, a good Atlanta car accident lawyer from John Foy & Associates can help you defer medical bills until the case is resolved and you have the financial recovery to pay them.

It’s never in your interest to accept a smaller settlement than you deserve simply to speed up the process. So, how long does it usually take to get a settlement from a car accident? Below, we cover the most common timelines for car accident settlements in Georgia.

Typical Settlement Timelines

While no two accidents are identical, most claims tend to fall into one of three general categories based on complexity:

• Simple cases (minor injuries, clear fault): These claims can frequently be resolved within 3 to 6 months, since there’s little dispute over who is at fault and the medical treatment involved is typically shorter and more straightforward.
• Moderate cases (more serious injuries, disputed liability): These claims generally take 6 to 12 months to resolve, as more time is needed for medical documentation, investigation, and negotiation with the insurance carrier.
• Complex cases (major injuries, lawsuits, multiple parties): These can stretch on for 1 to 3 years or longer, and this is exactly the kind of case John Foy & Associates handles on a regular basis.

Key Factors That Affect Your Settlement Timeline

Understanding why some cases move faster than others can help set realistic expectations. Here are the biggest factors that come into play:

• Medical treatment duration: You generally cannot finalize a claim until you’ve completed your medical treatment and reached what’s known as maximum medical improvement, so doctors can accurately assess the full extent of your injuries and any long-term effects.
• Liability disputes: If the insurance company disagrees about who caused the accident, negotiations will take longer and often require additional investigation, accident reconstruction, and witness statements.
• Severity of damages: Higher-value car accident claims for serious injuries typically receive more scrutiny, since insurance companies often investigate these cases more aggressively than minor ones.
• Litigation: When a fair settlement can’t be reached, filing a car accident lawsuit may become necessary, and once litigation begins, the timeline is largely dictated by the court’s schedule, which can extend the process to several years.
• Insurance company tactics: Some insurers intentionally slow down the claims process to wear down accident victims financially and emotionally, hoping they’ll accept a lower settlement just to get it over with.

Beware the “Quickie” Insurance Offer

When you first file a car accident claim, the insurance company may use one of two tactics. They may move slowly or may offer you money right away. The quick offer of money seems promising, but it is dangerous. Here’s why:

• The insurance company knows you may not have had time to talk with an Atlanta personal injury lawyer from John Foy & Associates. Never sign away your rights before you’ve received appropriate legal counsel.
• In the first weeks after your accident, you do not know the extent of your injuries. Even if you’ve already received treatment, doctors can be wrong about how long it will take to heal or whether the initial treatment will work. That means the amount of medical care you need could be greater than you think.

In other words, if you accept the money offered by the insurance company now, you may end up regretting it later. Talk to a personal injury lawyer and get their opinion on the insurance company’s first offer.

Property Damage vs. Bodily Injury Claims

It’s worth noting that not all parts of your claim move at the same speed. Simple property damage claims, covering repairs to your vehicle, can often be resolved within just a few weeks.

Personal injury claims, on the other hand, almost always take longer, since they require thorough documentation of medical treatment, ongoing symptoms, and the overall impact the injury has had on your life.

How the Car Accident Team at John Foy & Associates Can Help

Every case is unique, and the timeline for your settlement will depend on the specific facts surrounding your accident.

The skilled personal injury attorneys at John Foy & Associates have extensive experience handling car accident claims of all sizes, from straightforward property damage disputes to complex litigation involving catastrophic injuries like brain trauma or spinal cord damage.

If you’ve been injured in a car accident and aren’t sure what to expect, reach out to John Foy & Associates today for a free consultation. We can help you understand the settlement process during our conversation.

Talk to an Experienced Car Accident Lawyer Today to Learn More

Now you know the answer to, “How long does it usually take to get a settlement from a car accident?”  At John Foy & Associates, we hear this question from nearly every client who walks through our doors, and while we wish we could give a simple, universal timeline for the settlement process, every case is different.

Our car accident law team will review the details of your case for free, explain your options, and fight to make sure you’re not pressured into accepting less than you’re entitled to from the insurance company. You focus on healing; let us handle the rest. Visit our FAQ page to learn more.