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Injured? We Fight for What You Deserve
Injured? We Fight for What You Deserve
"When will this be over?" is a question we hear all the time from clients who are juggling medical bills, missed work, and the stress of an unresolved claim. Unfortunately, there's no single answer that applies to every case, and anyone who gives you a definitive timeline up front probably isn't being honest with you. My Lawyer Manwel is here to give you realistic expectations rather than empty promises. The truth about how long car accident settlements really take depends on several factors, some within your control and others completely out of your hands. Keep reading to find out what drives the timeline, where delays happen most, and what you can do to avoid unnecessary setbacks in your own case.
A fender bender with minor property damage and no injuries can be resolved in a matter of weeks. The insurance adjuster reviews the police report, confirms liability, and issues a check. But add injuries into the equation, and the timeline stretches considerably. Complicated cases involve disputed fault, multiple vehicles, severe injuries, or commercial vehicles with separate insurance policies. Each additional party introduces another insurance company, another adjuster, and another round of negotiations. When a trucking company's corporate insurer gets involved, they deploy their own investigators and legal teams to minimize payouts. Cases with catastrophic injuries like spinal cord damage or traumatic brain injuries require extensive medical documentation and expert testimony. A simple claim might settle in two to four months. A complex case can take eighteen months to three years, especially if it proceeds to litigation.
Insurance companies want you to settle before you know the full extent of your injuries. Accepting a settlement too early means you can't go back for more money if complications arise later. That's why your personal injury attorney in Los Angeles, CA will wait until you reach Maximum Medical Improvement, or MMI. This is the point where your doctors determine that your condition has stabilized and no substantial improvement is expected, even though ongoing treatment or symptom management may continue. For some injuries, MMI arrives within weeks. A broken arm heals, or physical therapy concludes, and your medical team clears you. Soft tissue injuries like whiplash can take six months or longer to fully reveal themselves. Traumatic brain injuries may require a year or more of observation before doctors can assess permanent impairment. Only at MMI can your legal team calculate the true value of your claim. This includes future medical costs, ongoing therapy, lost earnings, and pain and suffering. Settling before MMI almost always leaves money on the table.
Once you've reached MMI, your auto accident lawyer compiles everything into a demand package. This document includes medical records, bills, proof of lost wages, photographs from the accident scene, the police report, and witness statements. The demand package also calculates non-economic damages like pain and suffering based on the severity of your injuries and their impact on your life. Your attorney sends this package to the at-fault driver's insurance company with a specific dollar amount. The insurance adjuster then reviews the materials, consults with their own medical experts, and responds with a counteroffer. This counteroffer is almost always lower than your demand. Negotiations begin from there. Back-and-forth exchanges can span several weeks or several months, depending on how far apart the two sides start. Some insurers negotiate in good faith, but others use delay tactics and hope you'll accept a lowball offer out of frustration or financial pressure. A skilled personal injury attorney counters them with documented evidence and clear deadlines.
You have more control over the timeline than you might realize. Seek medical attention quickly after the accident and follow your treatment plan exactly as prescribed. Gaps in treatment give insurance adjusters ammunition to argue that your injuries aren't as serious as claimed. Document everything. Save every receipt, photos of your injuries as they heal, and journal entries of how your symptoms affect your activities. Respond fast when your attorney requests information or signatures. Cases stall when clients take weeks to return phone calls or provide documents. Avoid posting on social media about the accident or your recovery. Insurance investigators monitor these platforms and will use your posts against you. Resist the temptation to accept the first settlement offer because initial offers rarely reflect the true value of your case. Your auto accident lawyer can advise you on whether an offer is reasonable or whether continued negotiation will likely yield a better result. Trust the process even when it moves more slowly than you'd like. Rushing a settlement to escape the stress of waiting almost always costs you money in the end.
Car accident settlements in California don't follow a universal schedule. Simple cases resolve in months, while challenging ones can stretch into years. The severity of your injuries, the number of parties involved, the cooperation of insurance companies, and your own actions all influence how quickly your case concludes. The single most important factor is reaching Maximum Medical Improvement before you settle. Accepting money before that point means gambling with your financial future. If you're recovering from a car accident and wondering how long your case will take, My Lawyer Manwel can give you a realistic evaluation based on the specific facts of your situation. Contact us today for a consultation.
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