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How Long Will it Take to Settle My Alabama Car Accident Claim?

• May 6, 2020
• Cloud, Ryan & Rouse, LLC
• LEAVE A COMMENT

The weeks and months after a car accident can be extremely difficult. Not only are you dealing with the physical and emotional trauma of a serious accident, but you also likely have accident-related expenses piling up.  If you are currently in this situation, you’re likely wondering how long it is going to take for your case to settle.

It Really Depends

The amount of time it’s going to take for your case to settle – if it settles at all – depends on a number of factors. Some car accident cases settle within a few months, while others can drag on for a year or more. Still others never settle at all, leaving victims with no choice but to file a lawsuit in order to recover for their accident-related injuries. Some of the factors that can influence how long your case will take to settle include:

• Whether liability is legitimately in dispute
• The severity of your injuries
• The extent of your losses
• Whether you were partially at fault for your accident

If you’re concerned about making ends meet or paying for medical treatment while your accident case is pending, talk to a lawyer in your area. There are options for accident victims, including short-term loans and medical liens,; that can help get you through while you wait for your case to settle.

The Assistance of a Lawyer May Help Get Your Compensation More Quickly

Insurance companies want to minimize the amount they pay out on claims. That’s just a basic part of their business model. For this reason, they often engage in tactics that are designed to frustrate accident victims into accepting a lower settlement offer than their case is worth or just giving up entirely. Some of these tactics include:

• Making lowball settlement offers
• Making overbroad medical record requests
• Waiting until bills are piling up before making an offer
• Making an offer before victims have a chance to talk to a lawyer
• Misrepresenting victims’ rights (for example, telling them they are not entitled to damages for pain and suffering)

Fortunately, victims have the option of working with an attorney throughout the settlement process. A lawyer familiar with these and other insurance company tactics can often get insurance companies to make reasonable settlement offers more quickly and efficiently than victims can on when they represent themselves. For this reason, it’s highly advisable for all accident victims to discuss their options with a lawyer as soon as they can after their accident.

Call Us Today for a Consultation with a Huntsville Car Accident Lawyer

The lawyers of Cloud, Ryan & Rouse are skilled negotiators and aggressive litigators who know how to get insurance companies to pay out. We are committed to helping our clients obtain the compensation to which they are entitled, and will never pressure you to take a settlement lower than your case is actually worth. To schedule your free case evaluation with a Huntsville car accident lawyer, call our office today at 256-801-1000 or contact us online.