Despite the best efforts of an experienced car accident lawyer, victims waiting for their settlement agreement to be finalized soon realize that a personal injury lawsuit can take a very long time in Texas.
Whether it is a determined insurance company or a complicated personal injury claim, the car accident settlement process can drag on for months before a resolution is agreed upon. Usually, by the time a Texas car accident case is over, the victims would have long since completed their medical treatment and returned to work.
However, even though it seems that those handling car accident settlements work at a slow pace, victims are not entirely powerless to do something about it. With the right personal injury attorney on their side, victims can speed up the process of their car accident lawsuit significantly.
When faced with a lengthy car accident claim process, victims in Texas need to call Schuerger Shunnarah Trial Attorneys at 713-999-4150 and ask for a free consultation with an experienced lawyer.
How Long Does It Take To Resolve a Car Accident Case?
Each car accident settlement process is different. Depending on the circumstances of the personal injury lawsuit, a Texas car accident case can take just a few months to be completed. However, most personal injury cases go on for at least 18 months, with a few lasting even longer than that.
Factors That Affect the Time It Takes To Settle a Car Accident Case
When asking the question "How long does a car accident settlement take in Texas?" victims need to consider the factors that affect the settlement process. Schuerger Shunnarah Trial Attorneys can also answer questions like, "What is the average car accident settlement in Texas?"
The following are the most common elements of a personal injury lawsuit that will affect how long victims have to wait until reaching a settlement agreement:
Value of the Car Accident Settlement
A high settlement agreement takes a lot longer to reach than other settlements. This is because those representing the insurance company will try by all means to avoid having to pay large sums of money to the victim.
However, with good Dallas car accident lawyers on the case, the victim only needs to be patient while they wait for a fair settlement agreement to be reached.
Determining Liability
When car accidents occur, it is not always easy to determine who the at-fault driver is. Since Texas is a fault state, the personal injury case cannot proceed until the at-fault driver has been identified, which may take a long time depending on the complexity of the collision and the number of parties involved.
Severity of Injuries
How long does it take for the victim to either completely recover or reach maximum medical improvement? This is a crucial question because without medical records clearly showing how much money was spent on medical bills, accurate accident-related costs cannot be calculated.
Therefore, until a doctor confirms that the victim has reached maximum medical improvement, or gives an estimation of the estimated future costs of medical care, settlement negotiations will drag on.
The Insurance Company
Each insurance company has its way of handling insurance claims. While some are quick to payout settlement money and bring the insurance claim to a close, some insurance companies will fight tooth and nail for every penny.
In cases where the insurance company believes the victim is not entitled to seek additional compensation or any insurance coverage at all, the two parties may reach a standoff whose conclusion is anyone's guess.
Case Load of the Courts
Regardless of how much compensation the victim is seeking, or whether the insurance company is willing to cooperate, one of the biggest factors that affect the time it takes to conclude a car accident settlement is the caseload of the courts.
If the victim is unlucky enough to file a lawsuit during a time when the court system is battling a backlog of cases, there is not much that can be done to speed up the litigation process and reach an early settlement agreement.
Insurance Companies Want To Settle Quickly
One thing victims have to avoid in their rush to reach a settlement offer is to settle quickly. Many insurance companies use the tactic of trying to lure victims with an early offer of what may seem like fair compensation at that point, but in reality, is much less than what the victim is owed.
A good attorney will have a plan in place to reach a structured settlement that is in line with the severe injuries that their client has suffered. Hiring a personal injury lawyer on a contingency fee basis is one of the ways to ensure that they will fight for maximum compensation. A personal injury attorney can advise on questions such as, "How long do I have to sue after a car accident in Texas?"
How Car Accident Cases Are Settled
Once the settlement amount has been agreed upon by both parties, the process will move in a timely manner and the car accident case will be closed.
The following are the two final steps involved in the completion of Texas car accident cases:
The insurance company will send a settlement check to the victim's lawyer to cover medical liens, hospital bills, lost wages, property damage, and other costs related to the accident claim
After deducting their legal costs, the lawyer will hand over the settlement check to the victim to do with as they please
A Car Accident Attorney Can Help
The process of filing a personal injury claim and reaching a final settlement agreement can be very complicated, especially when you factor in the contributions of the insurance company, insurance adjuster, and the court itself.
However, with the right lawyer, victims can make this process as smooth as possible. A good personal injury lawyer will be able to:
File the lawsuit quickly
Handle all negotiations
Find ways to speed up the litigation process
Reach a fair settlement offer for their client
Fair Settlement Is Just One Call Away
Due to the several factors that slow down the personal injury claim process, victims in Texas can expect to wait for several months before receiving their settlement check. In special cases, the waiting period may be even a bit longer than that.
However, Schuerger Shunnarah Trial Attorneys, with its extensive experience handling insurance claims in personal injury cases, can speed up the process. Victims can visit the firm's Texas law offices for a free consultation.