Anderson Injury Lawyers | May 20, 2023 | Car Accidents
The bills can pile up quickly after a car accident in Fort Worth. Therefore, receiving a car accident settlement check as quickly as possible is essential. However, many factors impact how long it takes to get an insurance check for a car crash.
Furthermore, rushing to settle your case could result in a lower settlement amount. The best way to expedite your car accident settlement and protect your rights is to work with a Fort Worth car accident lawyer.
How Long Does a Car Accident Settlement Take in Fort Worth?
No two car accident cases are the same. Therefore, you cannot predict with certainty how long it will take to get a car accident settlement. Many factors impact the timeline for a car accident claim.
The factors that can lengthen the time it takes to receive a car accident settlement check include:
- The severity and type of injuries you sustain. Catastrophic injuries lengthen the duration of your recovery. Therefore, settling a claim before you reach maximum medical improvement could result in a much lower payment.
- Whether you sustain permanent impairments or disabilities. It takes longer to determine the extent of your damages to negotiate a fair settlement.
- The willingness of the insurance company to pay a fair amount for your damages.
- The parties involved in the accident. The claim could be more complicated when it involves certain parties, including government entities, trucking companies, and multiple parties.
- Whether liability for the cause of the car accident and damages is disputed. The strength of your evidence is a factor.
If your Fort Worth personal injury lawyer has to file a car accident lawsuit, it could take more than a year for the trial to occur. However, most personal injury cases settle through negotiations. Your case is unique, so you should not base your car accident case on the timeline of another case until you speak with a lawyer about the factors involved in your case.
What Are the Steps To Getting a Settlement Check for a Car Accident in Fort Worth?
Your personal injury lawyer investigates and builds your case while you recover from your injuries. Your duration of recovery impacts the timeline for settlement. When you reach maximum medical improvement, your lawyer calculates how much your case is worth based on your damages.
Then, your lawyer prepares a settlement demand letter for the insurance company. The demand letter outlines your case, including the legal basis for liability and your damages. In many cases, the insurance company and your attorney engage in back-and-forth negotiations to reach a settlement amount.
After you agree to a settlement amount, there are several more steps before you receive a settlement check for your car accident case.
Sign a Settlement Agreement
You must sign a final settlement agreement with the insurance company. Typically, the at-fault party does not admit to causing the car accident.
However, you agree to waive all claims against all parties. Therefore, you cannot demand more money for your claim after you sign the settlement agreement.
Attorney Receives Settlement Check
The insurance company sends the settlement check to your lawyer. Your attorney deposits the check into an escrow account until the check clears. Once the check clears, the attorney can disburse the funds.
However, before you receive a settlement check, the attorney deducts the following:
- The contingency fee for attorneys’ fees
- Costs of the case
- Payment for medical liens and subrogation claims
Most personal injury lawyers in Fort Worth take car accident cases on a contingency fee basis. The contingency fee is a percentage of the amount the lawyer recovers for your case. Therefore, you do not pay attorneys’ fees until and unless the lawyer recovers a settlement or jury verdict for your case.
What Damages Can I Receive for a Fort Worth Car Accident Case?
Whether you settle your claim or file a lawsuit, you can seek compensation for your economic and non-economic damages. The damages for a car accident claim include:
- Medical bills
- Past and future lost wages
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Physical therapy and other rehabilitative therapies
- Emotional distress
- Disabilities and permanent impairments
- Loss of future earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Diminished quality of life
How much your case is worth depends on the severity of your injuries and the extent of your damages. Because you agree to a settlement amount, talk with an experienced Fort Worth car accident lawyer. Your case could be worth more than the insurance company offers.
Contact Our Car Accident Law Firm in Texas
If you’ve been injured in an accident in Fort Worth or Dallas and need legal help, contact our car accident lawyers at Anderson Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation. We proudly serve Tarrant County, Dallas County, and throughout Texas.
Anderson Injury Lawyers – Fort Worth Office
1310 W El Paso St, Fort Worth, TX 76102
(817) 294-1900
Anderson Injury Lawyers – Fort Worth Office (Secondary)
6618 Fossil Bluff Dr # 108, Fort Worth, TX 76137
(817) 631-4113
Anderson Injury Lawyers – Dallas Office
408 W Eighth St Suite 202, Dallas, TX 75208
(214) 327-8000
Anderson Injury Lawyers – Dallas Office (Secondary)
6301 Gaston Ave suite 610, Dallas, TX 75214
(469) 457-4711