Are you wondering the best way to deal with a car settlement in Denver?
If you’ve been injured in a car accident, you should receive the full compensation you deserve. However, various factors influence the duration of your car accident settlement process. Being aware of these factors can help you make the best decision for your case.
If you’re in Colorado, one way to ensure your case doesn’t get bogged down is by hiring a car accident attorney in Denver. These attorneys help you negotiate your settlement and avoid the delays from being inexperienced in law.
What Factors Increase the Amount of Time It Takes a Car Accident Case to Settle?
Contributing factors in car accident cases can delay settlement, such as the duration of medical care and the extent of treatment the plaintiff receives. The responsiveness and fairness of the opposing insurance company or defence attorney can also affect the time of a car accident settlement.
Duration of Medical Care and the Last Treatment Date
You should wait to settle until you have all the information from your medical bills, treatment, and lost wages. Insurance companies or defence attorneys will often issue a low-figure settlement to try and get you to settle for less than your case is worth.
You don’t want to settle for less than what would make you whole. Hiring a car accident attorney will guide you through the legal process and be able to decipher whether the offer is a complete offer or the defence attorney is lowballing you.
A Car Settlement In Denver and The Amount of Available Car Insurance
Your case might take longer to settle if you have larger coverage amounts than medical bills. Remember, most car accident settlements aim to make the affected party whole again
(unless there is negligence involved, in which case, the at-fault party might have to pay punitive damages.)
In these cases, insurance companies might try to issue a lower settlement than the jury would. Your attorney should instruct you to wait for a larger payment issued by the jury.
The Insurance Company or Defense Attorney
Insurance companies have resources individuals don’t, such as attorneys on retainer. Because they have these resources, they won’t feel as much pressure to give you your settlement. Since they don’t have as much pressure to issue a payment and don’t have to pay lawyers hourly, they can get away with lowballing you on your settlement.
Large insurance companies can also afford to dispute every claim you make, bogging down the settlement process.
Cases Against the Local, State, or Federal Government
If a government agency was at fault in your case, you have to follow specific filing procedures, such as filing particular notices. These processes make it more likely that your claim will get rejected. To avoid delays caused by dealing with government agencies, you should hire a car accident attorney.
Car accident attorneys are familiar with the various filing procedures and can ensure your claim gets through unfettered.
Cases involving Medicare or Medicaid might require paying back some of the settlement because of liens. You can often negotiate liens, but having a car accident attorney will help you avoid incurring expenses that otherwise would diminish your settlement.
What Causes Car Accidents to Settle Faster?
Other factors can help you expedite your settlement, such as quick evidence presentation, thorough documentation, the insurance company having enough information to set a reserve, and dealing with a responsive insurance company.
Having readily available evidence to present to a jury can expedite your case settlement. Collecting the police report and obtaining eyewitness statements and photographs of the scene ensures a quick settlement process. The more evidence you compile, the more likely the insurance company will issue a fair, speedy settlement.
Thorough Documentation
Most insurance companies won’t issue a settlement until they’re sure they have all the necessary documentation. Maintaining thorough documentation, including medical records and proof of lost wages, ensures the opposing side can’t finagle a lower settlement based on technicalities.
The Insurance Company Having Enough Information to Set a Reserve
Case reserves are the cash insurance companies set aside to pay for your claim. If the insurance adjuster handling your case sets the case reserve too low, it can take some time to issue payment for the settlement. The sooner you notify the adjuster of your injuries, the more adequately and expediently they can set aside the reserve. The amount on the insurance policy may also limit the reserve.
Car Settlement In Denver and a Responsive Insurance Company
Reputable, responsive insurance companies issue prompt settlements and don’t fight tooth and nail on every minute detail. However, even the best insurance companies will wait until they have all the case details to issue settlements. Low-budget insurance companies will try to skimp every way they can, which can delay the settlement process even longer.
Phases of a Car Accident Lawsuit In Denver
If you take your car accident case to civil court, you will have to progress through several phases. Each of these phases requires careful deliberation and preparation. The car accident lawsuit process separates into five stages:
1. Pleading
2. Discovery
3. Pre-trial
4. Trial
5. Post-trial
The lawsuit process can take months or years to complete. Having a car accident attorney by your side to consult you throughout the process will put you in the best position to get the compensation you deserve.
Conclusion- How Long Does a Car Accident Settlement Take In Denver?
Your car accident settlement process will depend on various factors. How well you respond to these factors will determine how long it takes and whether you get the compensation you deserve.
Hiring a car accident attorney will help you avoid potential legal obstacles during the car accident settlement process. These legal professionals have experience in the various tactics insurance companies, and defence attorneys use to get the settlement as low as possible.
When wondering about how long a car settlement will take in Denver, speak to a law firm.