Will My Car Accident Settlement Be Worth The Wait?

WILL MY Car Accident Settlement BE WORTH THE WAIT? PRESENTED BY ADAM S. KUINER ATTORNEY AT LAW- It's important to remember that no two car accident cases are the same. The short answer for how long your settlement will take is: it depends. 10 Factors That Impact the Time It Takes to Settle Your Car Accident Case 1 Legal issues 2 Clarity of Fault If it isn't immediately apparent If there are legitimate concerns about the facts surrounding your accident, it can require the gathering of additional evidence to who is at fault for the accident, it may take time to build evidence to prove fault. Also, comparative negligence may also be at play. support your claim which can take time. 3 Nature of Injuries 4 Extent of Injuries If the other side questions Waiting to settle until the full extent of injuries is clear ensures you get the full compensation you need to the nature or severity of your injuries as it relates to the amount of damages being requested, a resolution may be delayed. recover, but can prolong the time to settlement. 5 Strength of Docs 6 Non-economic Damage Lack of proper If it isn't immediately apparent documentation of the who is at fault for the accident, it may take time to build evidence to prove fault. Also, comparative negligence may also be at play. accident can extend the time to settlement, because it may require additional time to fill in the blanks. 7 Insurance Cooperation 8 Insurer Resources If the insurance company suspects any amount of fraud or exaggeration, you can expect them to be less cooperative which may lead to enhanced scrutiny of If it isn't immediately apparent who is at fault for the accident. it may take time to build evidence to prove fault. Also, comparative negligence may also be at play. your claim. 9 Filing a Lawsuit 10 Discovery Process The process of gathering discovery, including depositions, can be lengthy. but careful development of If the other side refuses to pay, you may decide to file a suit and go to court, which can require additional time to components like depositions prepare for. and interrogatories is crucial to a strong case. The Bottom Line A lawyer will streamline your car accident legal process and handle the hard problems while you recover. AVERAGE CAR ACCIDENT Settlements WITH PROPERTY DAMAGE $3,231 WITH PHYSICAL INJURIES $15,443 The Actual Amount of Your Car Accident Settlement Depends on Your losses as the crash victim: The amount of a settlement is largely decided by the actual losses of the crash victim. The insurance policy of the other party: A more robust insurance policy can mean a higher settlement, in some cases. The severity of your injuries: The more severe the injuries are, the higher you can expect the settlement to be. The laws that apply to the case: Subtle differences in car accident laws can impact the settlement amount. TYPES OF DAMAGES Economic Tangible Out-of-Pocket Losses Past and future medical bills Lost wages Lost earning capacity Property damages *Mental health treatment Household services Transportation costs Non-economic Non-financial Losses That Aren't Measured by Dollar Figures Pain and suffering Emotional anguish Loss of enjoyment Disfigurement Mental injuries Disability Loss of consortium Determine how much your settlement may be by calculating your damages Calculate your medical bills Decide on a multiplier for non-economic damages based on severity of accident. 1.5 is the standard, 5 is the maximum for serious, long-lasting injuries Multiply medical bills by the multiplier Add all economic damages to number calculated from multiplier Sources www.hg.org/legal-articles/how-long-will-it-take-to-settle-my-car-accident-case-24768 www.griffithinjurylaw.com/taqs/how-much-time-does-it-take-to-settie-a-car-accident-claim-.cfm www.rmila.org/auto/traffic_safety/Cost_of_crashes.asp www.askadamskutner.com/auto-accident/what-is-the-average-car-accident-settlement/ www.askadamskutner.co r.com/personal-injury/types-of-damages-in-a-personal-injury-accident/ Vpersonal-injury/deciding-multiplier-personal-injury-case/ ADAM S. KUTNER -ATTORNEY AT LAW- www.askadamskutner.com