How Long Will It Take To Settle My Car Accident Case?
No one leaves their house expecting to get into an accident. When the unexpected happens, you’re scared, most likely hurt and unsure of what you should do next. One of the most common questions car accident victims ask is “How long will it take to get compensated?” After a crash, the medical bills can start piling up fast. Your situation is only made worse if you are unable to return to work, making the question, “When will I get compensated” all the more important.
We take a look at the factors that are considered in this type of situation below.
Determining Liability
In a lot of cases, it is a fairly straight-forward issue of determining who was responsible for the accident. Police reports, witness statements, and even driver admissions can be used to make these conclusions. The rule, of course, is that whoever is liable for the accident is then responsible for making the victims whole again. If there is little to no argument over who the liable party is, submitting a claim to their insurance company and receiving a settlement offer may only take a couple of months. If there are questions of liability, arguments over the amount of damages, or other hangups, it may take much longer.
Common Examples of Negligence in Car Accidents
Accidents happen. And while it is possible for a car accident to be the result of poor weather conditions or simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time, they are all too often the result of someone else’s negligent behavior.
When a driver gets in their car and jets off on their journey, they owe a duty of care to everyone else on the road. A breach in this duty of care can result in a car accident. Examples of these common forms of negligence include:
- Distracted Driving
- Driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Speeding
- Reckless driving
- Road rage
- Fatigued driving
- Violating traffic laws
Manufacturers may also be responsible for any injuries you sustain from a car accident if they were negligent in alerting their customers of a defective product in a timely manner.
Relevant Factors And Issues
There are a number of things that can stall or slow the process of receiving your settlement offer from the liable party. First, those involved may disagree about who was liable for the accident and resultant injuries. In cases of multi-vehicle accidents with there being as many as three or four drivers involved, insurance companies will want to take extra time to examine everyone’s involvement in the crash. As such, insurance companies may also look at any portion of your own liability in the crash. In pure comparative negligence states like Florida, the amount of damages a victim can recover is reduced by the percentage of fault they carried in the accident.
When dealing with the insurance company, it’s in your best interest to keep track of your medical expenses and any other damages. Failure to do this may result in the insurance company taking an even longer time to investigate and negotiate an offer to you. Furthermore, insurance companies are about their bottom dollar, which means they may challenge your medical expenses, claiming they were not substantiated for the types of injuries you sustained.
When Should I Contact My Insurance Company?
The most important thing to do after being in an accident is seek medical attention. Even though you may feel fine at the onset of your accident, you may still be injured but don’t know it yet. After an accident, your adrenaline will be pumping and it’s that adrenaline that can mask the severity of your injuries. Traumatic brain injuries like concussions often fall into this category, with the signs and symptoms of one often taking several days to appear. Another common injury that may take time to appear is whiplash. Seeking immediate medical attention will not only be beneficial to your health but will also come in handy down the line if your injuries prevent you from moving forward with your normal activities and want to file a claim.
After seeking medical attention, you should notify your insurance company of what happened. This can help you recover compensation as quickly as possible. While there is no formal deadline as to when you have to notify your insurance company, it’s better to do it sooner rather than later as a result of the reasons listed above.
What Are the Most Dangerous Roads in Florida?
Back in 2017, Florida’s U.S. 1 was listed as one of the most dangerous roads in Florida, seeing more than 1,000 fatal accidents in the past ten years, according to a study conducted by Geotab. Some of the other roads included:
- U.S. 441 – 417 fatalities
- U.S. 27 – 529 fatalities
- U.S. 41 – 741 fatalities
- U.S. 17
Florida’s roadways have become synonymous with some of the most dangerous in the country. In fact, there were more than 400,000 car accidents throughout the state in 2017 alone. If you or someone you know was injured in a motor vehicle accident that was caused by another driver’s negligence on one of these major roads or throughout South Florida, Lawlor, White & Murphey can help. Our firm represents clients in Homestead, Miami Lakes, Pompano Beach, Weston, Fort Myers Beach and more.
A Personal Injury Lawyer Can be Your Best Asset
Your best resource for negotiating or challenging settlements is an experienced personal injury attorney. If the other party’s insurance company throws up any roadblocks or you don’t feel like they are offering a fair settlement, an attorney will be your advocate with the insurance company or opposing attorneys. They will help you gather all the necessary evidence you need to strengthen your claim and negotiate the best settlement possible. And in the event no fair settlement is reached, they can help you file a lawsuit if that is necessary.
Contact a Fort Lauderdale Personal Injury Attorney About Your Car Accident Case Today
Did you or a loved one sustain serious injuries in a car accident? Don’t let the medical bills pile up while you wait for the negligent party or their insurance company to do the right thing. Right now, you need an aggressive personal injury attorney on your side, fighting to get you the compensation you need, want, and deserve. The skilled attorneys at Lawlor, White & Murphey represent clients injured or killed in car accidents in Broward, Dade, Palm Beach, Charlotte, Collier, Lee, Martin, Monroe, Sarasota and St Lucie counties. Call 954-525-2345 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free consultation about your case. We have an office conveniently located at 2211 Davie Boulevard Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312, as well as offices in Pembroke Pines, Weston, Coconut Creek, Pompano Beach, and Plantation.
The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.