Why Is My Car Accident Settlement Taking So Long?

Why Is My Car Accident Settlement Taking So Long?

You were the victim of a car accident, and another driver was at fault. You are aware that you are entitled to compensation, but where is your settlement? A car accident lawyer will help you to develop a credible claim with plenty of evidence. 

However, they cannot control the many parties involved or information exchanges that take place in a personal injury claim. These are some reasons why your settlement may be taking longer than expected.

You may have a longer treatment time.

A person who has filed a claim will usually need to reach maximum medical improvement before being able to determine the full value of a car accident case. 

Maximum medical improvement (MMI) is the point at which the health of a patient stops improving, that a patient’s health is medically “as good as it will get.” This might be the point after surgery with several weeks of physical therapy, for example. 

The MMI gives an idea of the impact of the injury from the car accident and the resulting limitations. So an injury helps determine the value of a claim, but also symptoms and resulting limitations. 

Collecting medical bills, records, and other information can be time-consuming.

It may take time to establish with medical records the cost of medical, symptoms, and limitations incurred through injury. 

As the person who has filed a claim, you are responsible for providing proof that the other party carries responsibility for the injuries you have suffered. You must also prove that you experienced injuries and that the cause of them was the accident itself.  

An insurance company will not hesitate to pay you less than your claim is worth if you do not provide the evidence to support your claim. 

Therefore you should obtain medical bills, records, and employer information on working days missed and why; reimbursement for lost wages; contact information for witnesses; or a police report may also be used. 

You may have filed a lawsuit, and it is in the process of negotiations. 

A settlement can also take longer if you have filed a lawsuit. A lawsuit can sometimes drag on for months or even years from the filing date, but it might be necessary to obtain the compensation you deserve. 

Most cases are resolved through negotiations following discovery but before trial. However, discovery can be a lengthy process. Therefore, if you have filed a lawsuit to recover damages for your car accident losses, you might obtain a successful outcome, though recovering damages may take more time.  

Contact a Kansas personal injury lawyer today.

The length of a settlement process can be frustrating. If you may be considering settling for a smaller amount to speed up the process of receiving compensation, it is important to talk to a personal injury lawyer. 

We will be glad to discuss if we may be able to help, given your specific circumstances. Contact us today online or call our office at 620-241-9000 or toll free 888-381-1155.