Ask a Car Accident Lawyer: How Long Does This Process Take?
Have you been hurt in a car accident? Are you seeking compensation and wondering how long the process might take? There are a few important things you should know. Here’s what you should expect from the process as well as why you should work with a reputable car accident lawyer.
Ask a Car Accident Lawyer: How Long Does This Process Take?
Getting injured in a car accident is a stressful and scary thing. Going through the process of seeking compensation for your injuries can also be a long, difficult process. Knowing how long you can expect your claim to take can help assuage some of your stress.
Unfortunately, there’s no way to tell for certain how long a particular case might take. Many factors contribute to how long a particular case may take. When you work with a car accident lawyer in Bryan, TX, they’ll consider your case and give you a rough estimate of how long you can expect it to take.
The Complexity of Your Case
One of the factors that will contribute to how long your case will take is how complex your case is. It stands to reason that if the accident is fairly clear-cut and it’s obvious who is at fault, this process will be relatively short.
However, if it’s not quite obvious what happened, then you can expect your case to take a longer time. You and the other party will need more time to gather evidence and prove that your side of the story is really what happened, and determining the true version of events will take longer.
How Negotiations Go
You will likely be offered an initial settlement by the other party’s insurance company. It’s important not to accept this settlement right away and instead spend some time thinking it over and discussing your options with your lawyer. This initial settlement may not be what your case is really worth.
Your lawyer will help you determine what fair compensation for what you’ve been through actually looks like, and they’ll help you negotiate for adequate compensation. Sometimes negotiations go smoothly and quickly, while in other situations they can take quite a while.
Insurance Companies
The other party’s insurance company will play a huge role in how long your case takes. These agencies are not your friends, and they will do whatever they can to have to provide you with as little money as possible. One tactic they may implement is delaying payment or responses.
These agencies will take as much time as they can to make you feel frustrated, hopeless, or desperate about your situation. This will also, of course, increase the amount of time your case takes. Working with a qualified lawyer will help get these adjusters moving so you can get your compensation quickly.
Why Work With a Lawyer
Lawyers Are Legal Experts
Your lawyer will have spent many years training in and practicing the law. This is training and experience that you probably don’t have yourself. If you choose to represent yourself, it will be easy for the other party’s legal team to take advantage of your lack of knowledge.
But when you work with a lawyer, you’ll be on even footing. This will ensure that you get the full compensation that you deserve, and it will help your case move as quickly as possible.
They Know What Your Case Is Worth
During your initial consultation with your lawyer, one of the important questions that you need to ask is what they think your case is worth. This is going to help you determine when to accept your settlement offer.
Your lawyer will likely have worked on cases similar to yours in the past, which means they’ll have a clearer idea of what your case is worth. You’ll be able to maintain realistic expectations for the amount of compensation you’ll get, and you’ll know whether what the other party is offering you is acceptable.
Lawyers Can Deal With Insurance Companies
One of the most frustrating parts of something like this is dealing with insurance agencies. Many of them employ underhanded tactics to reduce the amount of money that they need to give you. They also won’t be afraid to take advantage of your lack of legal knowledge.
This is why you should always direct insurance adjusters to speak to your lawyer. Your lawyer will know exactly how to handle them and they’ll know how to get them moving so you can get your compensation as quickly as possible.
Car accidents are scary and stressful things. Getting the compensation you deserve to help cover the costs of your injuries and damages will make things a lot easier. If you want to get a fair settlement and ensure that you get it as quickly as possible, working with a qualified lawyer is the best thing you can do.Ask a Car Accident Lawyer: How Long Does This Process Take?
