In an Atlanta car accident, your first concern after the crash should be to get medical treatment for any injuries. The next thing you would want to know is the magnitude of damages you have suffered and whether you can recover compensation for these. An Atlanta auto accident lawyer will help you determine this while also providing a general estimate of your damages.
Another vital concern for most car accident victims is the timeline for damages. This typically depends on how your claim is handled. If your claim is successful and you reach an agreement with the insurance company, you are likely to get damages sooner. If the claim fails and you have to file a lawsuit, a settlement can take some time.
Once a claim for damages turns into a lawsuit, a number of factors affect how soon the lawsuit is resolved. Here is a look at these factors.
Factors Affecting Settlement Timeline
A number of factors affect the duration of a personal injury lawsuit. These include:
The Injuries
One of the most important factors that can affect the duration of the car accident lawsuit is the nature of the injury. If your injuries are negligible, your lawsuit may be resolved within a few months. If your injuries are critical or severe, it can take some years to settle your lawsuit. This is because severe injuries like a broken leg or damage to vital organs may take some time to reveal their full measure.
As a claimant, you want to know the precise extent and magnitude of your injuries so that you may claim a fair amount of damages and claim a lawsuit accordingly. The court will judge the severity of your injury and its effects on your present and future life.
The Evidence
The second most important factor in a car accident claim is the availability of evidence. Usually, you need a good amount of evidence to prove that you are a victim and the other party a defendant. Relevant evidence may include police reports, medical records, doctor’s statements, defendant’s history, expert testimony, and witness statements.
If you have already gathered the evidence beforehand with the help of your attorney, you can speed up the settlement process. If you fail to produce sufficient evidence for your claim, investigations into your claim may become prolonged. This can further delay a final settlement.
The Parties Involved
Another important fact that affects the duration of the lawsuit is the number of parties involved in the crash. If there are only two parties i.e. the victim and the defendant, it becomes easier to determine liability. But if there are more than two parties involved, determining liability becomes a more complex process. In the latter case, complicated principles such as joint and several liability can come into play which will force a delay in the settlement until the related legal issues are sorted.
The Claimed Amount
The amount you are claiming for your losses also impacts the time it takes to reach a settlement. When the claimed amount is small, a few thousand dollars or so, you are likely to get a settlement soon. But if you are claiming a large amount, the insurance company will put a lot more effort into countering your claim. This typically results in a protracted legal battle which can take some time to sort out. It is only once the insurance company has exhausted all its legal options that the company will agree to pay up the claimed amount.
Court Delays
The court where you have filed the lawsuit has its own schedule of hearings and meetings. A court may take some time to proceed with your lawsuit. This is something that is not in your control, so you will need to be patient with this.
Hiring a Reliable Atlanta Auto Accident Lawyer
If you have been injured in a car accident in Atlanta, GA, it is important to consult with a lawyer as soon as possible. A good lawyer will help you file a claim for damages backed with suitable evidence to improve your odds of success.
Here at Ted Greve & Associates, we help you with the claims process. If your claim becomes a lawsuit, we also work with you through the legal battle. We understand how the factors listed above can impact a lawsuit and we do our best to reduce the timeline to settlement. In doing so, we negotiate with insurers on your behalf while seeking the maximum payout. Reach out to us for a free consultation where you can discuss your case in detail.
