When you file a lawsuit for a car accident, your car accident lawyer will name all of the parties with liability for the accident. This will likely include the other driver, but it could also include the car manufacturer, the other driver's employer, or other entities based on the facts of your accident. After they receive the lawsuit, those parties will inform their insurers. Those insurers will usually join the case as a necessary party. They will also provide a defense for the policyholder. Through the course of your case, your car crash lawyer will try to negotiate a settlement with the insurer. The insurer must indemnify the policyholder up to the policy limits, so it has an incentive to try to dispose of the case if you can prove your case. If you cannot settle, the case will go to trial. At trial, your car accident lawyer will present evidence of the at-fault party’s liability and the damages you suffered. The insurance company’s lawyer will present evidence that its policyholder does not bear liability for your injuries. At the close of evidence, your case will go to a jury or judge, depending on whether you requested a jury trial. The jury or judge will return a verdict. If you receive a damage award for less than the policy limit, the insurer will pay the whole amount. If you receive a damage award above the policy limit, the insurer will pay the policy limit and the at-fault party will pay the rest. Collecting Your Judgment Insurers will usually send you a check within 30 days after the judgment. But if the insurer appeals the verdict, it can hold your payment until an appeals court reviews the decision. Most people and businesses do not keep cash on hand to pay judgments. You might need to garnish wages and attach assets and bank accounts to satisfy your judgment. Alternatively, you might negotiate a settlement with the at-fault party to get what you can without spending additional money trying to collect your judgment. To discuss what you can seek for your car accident in a lawsuit, call a lawyer for your free consultation.