2024 How Long Does It Take to Settle a Car Accident Claim in Georgia?

After the events immediately following a car accident, many victims are left wondering how they will get through the situation financially. Property damage, medical bills, and lost wages can add significant burdens to the victim that they likely cannot afford to pay out of pocket. Consulting with a local car accident attorney in Marietta, GA, can help you secure the financial compensation you deserve and ensure that it’s obtained as quickly as possible so that you can get back to your recovery with peace of mind.

hat Factors Impact the Amount of Time a Car Accident Claim Takes?

As you can imagine, there are several factors that come into play when settling a car accident claim. No two circumstances are identical, and any given accident case can take anywhere from just a couple of months to several years to settle. However, the exact length of time a case will take is usually dependent on a handful of elements.

Here are some of the primary factors that can decide how long your car accident case takes:

• The total value of damages and severity of injuries
• How long it takes for you to fully recover from your injuries
• The degree of negligence committed or fault of the other driver
• The insurance company’s willingness to settle during negotiations
• Whether the case goes to trial or not

Each case has its own set of unique circumstances, but an experienced personal injury attorney can guide you through the entire process and help provide an estimate of what the expected timeline may look like for your particular claim. Once you have agreed to hire legal representation, they will get started working on your case right away by following common legal procedures necessary for car accident cases.

What Steps Take Place During a Car Accident Claim?

While each car accident case involves different circumstances, most will generally follow this timeline:

• Investigation: The moments immediately following the accident can often be the most crucial to not only your physical safety but to the overall success of your case. Once you have called 911 and checked yourself and others for injuries, you should take pictures of all damages sustained to yourself and the vehicles to ensure accurate documentation.
  Your attorney can help you with this, in addition to interviewing any eyewitnesses and recovering all available evidence. They can also help you with obtaining police reports and any medical reports from treatment you received for your corresponding injuries in order to build evidence for your claim.
• Filing the Claim: Once the initial investigation is complete and you have obtained full police and medical reports, you will be ready for your attorney to file a personal injury claim via a demand letter with the insurance provider of the other driver involved in the accident.
• Negotiation: The insurance company will have a set amount of time to respond to your claim. Your attorney can help speed up the process, but the insurance companies will often delay their response or respond with a lower-than-adequate offer to extend the negotiation process.
  This is a common negotiation tactic by many insurance companies in order to get the victim to settle for less out of desperation. Once a settlement is finally agreed to, the insurance company is required to pay out your claim within 10 days.
• Filing a Claim: If a settlement cannot be reached between the two parties, then filing a claim against the at-fault driver may be your only option to recover the compensation you need for the damages. This claim would be in addition to the insurance claim that you have already filed.
• Trial Preparation: Prior to the beginning of the actual trial in court, there is a discovery period and preparation that can sometimes take several months.

The entire claim process, without even going to trial, can take more than 60 days, largely dependent on the insurance companies’ willingness to reasonably cooperate, which is far from ideal for the victim. Having an experienced car accident attorney on your side can help speed up the negotiation process as much as possible to ensure that you have the financial coverage you are entitled to.

FAQs

Q: What Is the Average Car Accident Settlement in Georgia?

A: The average settlement for a car accident claim in Georgia is between $20,000 and $25,000. This is based on claims with moderate overall damages and injuries. Depending on the total value of the damages, the severity and long-term effects of the injuries sustained, and the level of lost earning capacity of the victim, car accident settlements can range from just a couple thousand dollars to multiple millions.

Q: How Long Does an Insurance Company Have to Pay a Claim in Georgia?

A: Once a settlement offer is agreed upon between the two parties, the insurance company will then have 10 days from the date on which they accepted the claim to deliver full payment to the plaintiff. However, the filing of the claim, settlement negotiations, and potential trial can prolong the process leading up to an agreement by several weeks.

Q: How Long Does It Take for a Car Insurance Claim to Settle?

A: In Georgia, insurance companies have up to 60 days to settle a claim. For the majority of cases that do not go all the way to trial, claims can often be settled in anywhere from 30 to 60 days, depending on the level of cooperation and negotiation by the insurance company.

The Right Firm to Make Seek Justice for You

Experiencing a traumatic car accident can be harmful enough without the financial repercussions that many victims are forced to face in the wake of the event. The amount of damages caused by the at-fault party can seem insurmountable at times, but you do not have to fight this battle alone.

Barnes Law Group has been proudly serving car accident victims in Georgia for decades. We understand how unique each personal injury case is and exactly how much of the victim’s livelihood is at stake. Our aim is to make it right for the victim who has been left devastated by injuries and other damages by working tirelessly to ensure that their legal rights are upheld and that they receive every bit of the compensation they are entitled to.

Feel free to give us a call anytime or request a consultation for a case evaluation.