One of the most frequently asked questions by clients is how long it takes for their case to be settled. This all depends on when in the process a client asks. Therefore, the best answer to this question is that it depends. Anyone who will give you a contrary answer will be selling you smoke and mirrors. Depending on the complexity of the case concerning proving the party at fault during an accident, or how serious your injuries from the accident were, the answer will vary. What you definitely need to do soon after the accident is getting help from an Worker’s Compensation Attorney in Los Angeles.
State Laws & Regulations
For instance, for a simple car accident case in Los Angeles, as a general rule, you will have three years from the date of the accident to either file a lawsuit or settle your case. Failure to do so prior to the end of this three year period, you risk losing your legal right to ever pursue the person who was at fault for the accident. Nonetheless, you are exempted from this rule if you were under the age of 18 at the time of the accident.
Nature of Accidents
Car accidents vary. Therefore, you will never find two car accidents that are similar. Accidents such as rear-end crashes are straightforward. Accidents that involve multiple pileups of cars on an interstate highway are more complex. There are too many witnesses who end up issuing conflicting statements on who was at fault.
To be successful, a client must prove that their responsibility in the accident does not exceed 50%. If you are found to have exceeded this limit, it will become impossible for you to recover damages. Be them from the insurance company or the other car owner.
Due to the amount of necessary evidence required to prove who was at fault, much work needs to be done. This will slow the entire process and can take months or even a year or more before being ready for settlement discussions.
On the other hand, there are clear-cut cases that are quite easy to figure out the party at fault. Such cases include rear-end collisions at red lights or where the other party is arrested for a DUI. These will not take long to solve.
Extent of Injury
The extent of injury to a person and the type of medical treatment they required is another factor that will dictate how long it will take for a case to be settled. To accurately and fully evaluate a client’s case, the person must have made full recovery or a point where they will recover no further. This is known as the Maximum Medical Improvement.
Therefore, it’s true that the duration of time required to settle a car accident case will depend on many factors. It may take 4 to 6 months to settle a case involving rear-end collisions that do not involve bad injuries. If the case involves a major accident involving severe injuries, it may take longer.
Getting Help from an Worker’s Compensation Attorney in Los Angeles
If you have questions and want to speak to someone about the process involved in bringing a car accident claim, give us a call at (213) 263-6131 to discuss your situation. Belal Hamideh Law will provide you with a free pamphlet to help you get the maximum recovery from your claim. Contact an Worker’s Compensation Attorney in Los Angeles and get help with your case today.
