Several variables will determine how long it will take to receive your car accident settlement in Texas. In some cases, the car wreck legal process will be relatively swift, with the victim receiving compensation within a few weeks. In other cases, the process may be more complicated, delaying disbursement slightly. Contact us at the Patterson Law Group if you’ve been hurt in a car accident. We can fight for your rights so that you can focus on healing while we focus on earning you justice.
Negotiating a Settlement
The first step in a personal injury settlement process is negotiating a settlement with the opposing party. Before your lawyer can do this, the full extent of your injuries must be understood. This can take several months but will help your Fort Worth car accident lawyer earn you the full compensation package you deserve.
The insurance company may offer a settlement even before the full extent of your injuries is established. Without ample time for your doctors and lawyers to determine how much compensation you deserve, this offer will likely be considerably lower than it should be.
For example, if you’ve injured your neck, you may not know how this will affect your life and ability to work until numerous tests are performed. However, if you accept an offer before the necessary evaluations are completed, you may find that your medical issues require far more rehabilitation than anticipated.
Once the value of your injuries is determined, your lawyer will issue a demand letter to the defendant. This letter will outline and offer proof of your injuries and provide them with a settlement package. Then, the other party will decide whether to accept or offer a counter-proposal. This process can last from a few days to several months.
Receiving the Payout
Once you agree to a settlement for your injuries, there will be a few additional steps before you receive your compensation. Your lawyer will receive a check for your settlement within a few days of notifying the insurance company of the agreed-upon amount.
Once your attorney receives the check, they will use the funds to pay off any case-related debts you’ve incurred during the process. This can include things like medical liens and court filing fees. After these fees are paid, your lawyer will deduct their legal costs from your settlement. Typically, this will be an agreed-upon percentage of the total compensation package.
You’ll then have to choose how you will receive it. You can choose two options: a lump-sum option, which provides the entire settlement at once, or a structured settlement, which provides portions of the money at set intervals. If you choose a lump sum, you’ll usually receive the check in about two weeks. If you choose the latter, you’ll receive payments on a set schedule until you receive the full amount.
Settlement Timeline
A straightforward car accident settlement will take about six weeks. However, the average car accident settlement will take longer. Your exact timeline will be unique to your case and depend several factors, including:
- The Severity of Your Injuries. Cases involving more severe injuries will take longer. This is because the insurance company will investigate this more thoroughly, and you will need to undergo more extensive medical examinations before you receive compensation.
- Long Does it Take to Determine Fault? If fault is not clear-cut, your settlement will take longer because more in-depth legal investigations will be required to determine who is eligible for compensation. The situation is further complicated if both drivers are suing each other for injuries.
- The Applicability of Punitive Damages. If the other driver caused your injuries due to reckless behavior, they might face punitive damages. These are awarded to victims to punish the offender for unusually negligent actions. If punitive damages are in play in your case, more extensive legal proceedings will be necessary, further delaying your settlement.
- The Other Driver’s Insurance. You’ll be suing a large insurance company if the other driver is insured. In some cases, this will not affect your settlement timeline. However, in other cases, the insurance company may be uncooperative and delay your compensation. If the other driver was uninsured, you’d be suing them directly, which can expedite the process but lower the compensation you receive.
Schedule a Free Consultation at Patterson Law Group
If you’re wondering do I have a car accident case worth pursuing, contact Patterson Law Group today. Our attorneys have years of experience handling personal injury car accident cases and know what it takes to fight for the full compensation package you deserve. Schedule a free consultation; there is no obligation to hire us afterward. And since we work on a contingency fee basis, you will not pay attorney’s fees unless we win compensation for your injuries. We look forward to hearing from you.
