If you were hurt in a car crash, it is critical to seek medical assistance and receive proper treatment, determine liability in your accident, and file insurance claims. If necessary, you may have to file a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault party.
Recovering damages is a complex experience for anyone involved in a car accident in Florida. If you are wondering how long it will take to settle your claim, there is no definitive answer. While some car accident claims settle within months, others can take a year or more.
The Length of Your Car Accident Case in Florida
How long it will take to settle your car accident claim depends on the facts and circumstances surrounding your particular case. There are at least six factors that impact the length of your car accident case in Florida:
- The Severity of Your Injury
The more severe your car crash injury is, the longer it will take to recover. It is never advised to settle a car accident claim before you have fully recovered or at least reached your maximum medical improvement (MMI), which is the point when your condition has stabilized.
Unless you have fully recovered or reached your MMI, you cannot know the full extent of your medical expenses, loss of income, and other damages. However, since Florida’s statute of limitations for personal injury cases is four years, you must bring a claim before the deadline runs out.
- Establishing Fault in Your Case
It is critical to establish fault in your car accident case. Typically, this is done through investigations by insurance companies and attorneys. The time spent investigating your auto accident extends the length of your case.
Also, the denial of your personal injury claim by the insurance company might stall your case, which is why it is vital to be represented by a skilled lawyer to conduct an independent investigation and strengthen your own case. Depending on your particular situation, your lawyer might hire accident reconstruction experts to establish fault.
- The Number of Parties Involved
The more parties are involved in a car crash, the harder it will be to determine liability. The number of plaintiffs and defendants can impact the timeline of your car accident settlement in Florida, especially when it is not immediately clear who was to blame for causing the collision.
- The Availability of Expert Witnesses
In many cases, insurance companies require the assistance of medical experts, accident reconstruction specialists, and other expert witnesses to testify in court. For this reason, the availability of expert witnesses will affect how long it will take to settle your car accident claim.
- The Strength of Your Case
The more convincing your arguments are – and the stronger your case is overall – the less time it will take to settle your car accident claim for a fair amount. In other words, it is recommended to hire an experienced auto accident attorney to help you collect sufficient evidence proving the other party’s fault and strengthen your case.
- The Willingness to Settle
Last but not least, the length of your car accident case is affected by the willingness of all parties to settle as well as the responsiveness of insurance companies. In Florida, insurers are required to respond to claims within 30 days.
If the other driver involved in your car crash is not willing to settle, your case might take longer as it could proceed all the way to trial.
Contact our Lakeland car accident lawyers at The Turnbull Firm to examine how long it will take to settle your car accident claim. Call at 863-324-3500.
https://www.turnbullinjurylaw.com/unsafe-lane-change-accident-in-florida-whos-at-fault/