How Long Does a Car Accident Settlement Take?
Quick Car Accident Settlements Can Hurt You
Car accident injuries are always unexpected and traumatic experiences. One second, you are driving down the road and suddenly you feel an impact to your vehicle. Someone may cause you to lose control of your vehicle, and you and passengers may suffer serious injuries after a car accident.
According to the Texas Department of Transportation, across the state, a negligent driver causes someone an injury in an auto accident two minutes. Depending on the seriousness of the accident, the resulting injuries can range from minor to life-threatening.
If you or a loved one were injured by another driver, make your recovery your first priority. As your medical expenses increase, you feel pressured to explore your options for recovering financial compensation. A skilled car accident attorney can help injured victims manage the stress of pursuing legal action.
Common Cause of Car Accidents
Car accidents are caused by a variety of circumstances. Some of the most common factors contributing to collisions include:
- Distracted driving
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Speeding
- Reckless driving
- Poor weather
- Running a red light or stop sign
- Poor visibility
Regardless of what caused the accident, if you sustained injuries, your ability to recover is what matters. When your sole focus is your physical recovery, you can recover faster and with fewer setbacks. You should consider retaining a personal injury attorney to handle the legal aspects of your claim, so you can maintain focus on recovering. Experienced attorneys regularly fight for the rights of injured victims to seek the compensation they are entitled to. By relieving the financial burdens of medical expenses, you can focus on getting back on your feet.
Car Accident Injuries
Every year, over 30,000 people die from car accident injuries in the United States. Of course not every car accident causes fatalities, but, frequently, accident injuries are severe and even life-threatening. Common car accident injuries include:
- Cuts
- Bruises
- Whiplash
- Concussions and other traumatic brain injuries
- Broken bones
- Internal bleeding
- Herniated discs
- Joint trauma
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Amputation
- Paralysis
- Death
Suffering a serious injury due to another’s reckless or negligent behavior can be frustrating for victims. You would not be injured had the other party behaved reasonably. Sustaining injuries that result in permanent disability can be even more frustrating. Victims have to learn to cope with and adapt to their physical limitations. Depending on the severity of your injuries, you could face a decrease in the quality of life you once enjoyed.
However, just because you have suffered a car accident injury, does not mean you need to suffer forever. When the accident was not your fault, the resulting medical bills should not be your responsibility. A skilled personal injury lawyer works to endure that injured victims do not suffer from financial hardship. When appropriate, they may work with treatment providers to defer payment until the victim’s claim has been resolved. Let an attorney handle the legal aspects of your claim, so that you can fully recover.
Damages
Of course, no amount of compensation will erase the trauma of a serious accident. Money cannot remove the pain and suffering you have experienced. Money will not take away the medical procedures you have had to endure. However, financial compensation can relieve the stress of the financial burden your injuries have caused you.
On top of significant medical expenses, you may be unable to work while you recover or unable to return to work at all. Being unable to work while bills pile up can be overwhelming. Working with our team of experienced attorneys may allow injured victims to focus on their recovery, free of stress. When injured victims can trust that their attorney is working hard to protect their rights and maximize their financial recovery, they can breathe easy.
Injured victims may be entitled to compensation for:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Lost wages
- Loss of companionship
- Lost earning potential
- Medical expenses
- Rehabilitation costs
Many people do not realize how expensive it is to recover from a car accident injury. Even seemingly minor injuries, such as a concussion, can cost thousands of dollars to treat. You should not have to pay any of these bills on your own.
Remain Cautious of Settlement Offers
You may get excited when the at fault driver’s insurance company offers you a quick settlement. We know you want to put this traumatic experience behind you as quickly as possible. We also know that part of the process of moving on includes resolving your legal claims.
However, a quick settlement offer could negatively impact your physical recovery. When the insurance company offers you a quick settlement, it is usually an amount that does not acknowledge the actual value of your claim. Insurance company representatives know you are out of work, need the money, and are eager to move on with your life.
The insurance company will attempt to take advantage of your situation, hoping you will be attracted to quick compensation. When you do, they get to keep their profits high and you could end up paying out of pocket for your medical bills. It is important to know that most settlement agreements require injured victims to waive their right to seek additional compensation for their injuries. After accepting a settlement, if you realize the funds are inadequate to fully cover your medical expenses, it will be too late to seek further compensation.
Negotiating with insurance companies is difficult. By taking the time to calculate your future medical needs, you can leverage the value of your claim. While it’s true that most personal injury cases settle out of court, settling requires active back and forth negotiation. Our team has the experience required to ensure injured victims maximize their recovery.
You should speak with a lawyer as soon as possible after your car accident injury. When you feel comfortable with your lawyer and you trust your lawyer has your best interests at heart, you can better focus on your physical recovery.
Taking the quick settlement could end up hurting you even more than the car accident. You should not need to suffer financially. You’ve already suffered enough.
