Keep in mind that every car accident case is different; there are complexities and details unique to every accident that make a simple answer virtually impossible.
We can’t give a definitive answer for every client before we know more details, but you can expect a car accident case to settle within a few months. That timeline increases significantly if you go to trial. However, some of those cases can take a few years to reach a verdict.
Several factors will determine how long it takes your case to settle. These include:
1. Severity of damages – Generally, cases with serious injuries and expensive damages will take longer to settle. That’s because a victim might require multiple surgeries or treatment plans before negotiations can even begin.
2. Level of cooperation from the other driver’s insurance company – If the other driver insists they were not at fault, their insurance company may go along and try to delay the case (if they believe that their client is blameless).
3. Uncertainty of fault – If there is uncertainty about who was at fault in the accident, the other party’s insurance company will likely not want to settle.