Unfortunately, some car crash claims take longer than others, based on a variety of factors specific to your accident and injuries.
Schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with one of our Weatherford car accident lawyers to learn if you may be eligible to pursue compensation after a car crash.
What Influencing Factors Could Affect My Claim?
On average, car accident claims take between two to 12 months to settle. More complicated claims may take years to settle.
There are many factors that could complicate the settlement process, including:
- Severity of your injuries
- Pre-existing injuries
- Length of your recovery
- Whether you make a full recovery
- Whether there are multiple parties that hold fault
- Whether the cause of the crash is clear
- Tickets issued by police
- Number of insurance companies involved
- Difficulties with investigating the accident
- You are seeking a large compensation award because of significant injuries
- It takes a while to reach maximum medical improvement
What if I Get a Quick Offers From the Insurance Company?
Car accident victims may believe the insurance adjuster is trying to help them get what they deserve from their claims. However, insurance adjusters work for the insurance company, not you. Their job is to limit the amount of compensation the company pays to victims.
One tactic that insurers use to limit the amount of compensation they pay is making a quick settlement offer early in the claims process. Unfortunately, these offers are typically for much less than victims’ claims may be worth. It is often not possible to determine the full value of a claim so early in the process, as victims may require future treatment.
If you receive a quick settlement offer, you should have your attorney review it to determine if the offer is fair. If the offer is too low, your lawyer can negotiate with the insurance company for a better offer.
Negotiation may go on until a settlement is reached. If a settlement cannot be reached, you may be able to take your claim to trial.
If the insurance company denies your claim, your attorney can help you appeal this decision by going through the insurance company appeal. If the insurance company refuses to reconsider your claim, your lawyer may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit and guide you through the process.
As your attorney prepares for trial, negotiations may continue. Sometimes both sides can reach a settlement before the trial begins. If a settlement cannot be reached, your lawyer can represent you in court and a jury will decide whether to award compensation.
Can I Do anything to Help Strengthen My Case?
After being injured in a car accident, your first step should be to seek medical treatment for your injuries. If possible, collect as much evidence as you can from the accident scene. This includes taking pictures and talking to witnesses. Writing down what you remember could also be helpful, as you may forget things later.
Contact Our Licensed Texas Attorneys for Help With Your Claim
The attorneys of Anderson & Cummings are committed to recovering maximum compensation as quickly as possible. We understand how important compensation can be to victims and their families when medical bills are piling up and they have lost wages because they missed time from work.
Schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with our legal team today. When you work with us, there are no upfront fees and you only pay us if we recover compensation for you.
Call our law offices at (817) 920-9000 to discuss your situation anytime, night or day.