What Is the Timeline to Settle Car Accident Claims in Georgia?

A car accident case can take several months to over a year to settle. Most Georgia car accident claims settle within a few months of completing your medical treatment and after the full extent of your injuries is clear. However, all car accident cases are different. The amount of time it takes to receive compensation for your injuries, medical expenses, lost income, and pain and suffering will depend on a number of factors unique to your situation.

What Are the Steps in the Timeline of Settling a Car Accident Claim?

Settling a personal injury claim after a collision begins with notifying two parties: your insurance company and a knowledgeable Georgia car accident attorney. When filing first-party claims with your insurance company, your policy may require you to report an accident to your insurer within a specific timeframe after the crash.

The advantage of contacting a lawyer right away is twofold. First, they will handle all communications with the insurance companies. This will protect your rights and guard against the tactics insurers often use to avoid paying injured parties as much as they deserve. Second, your attorney can get to work investigating the crash to recover the evidence needed to build a solid car accident claim.

Once your attorney has investigated the collision, gathered evidence, identified all liable parties, and organized your claim, the next step in the settlement process is to send the insurance company a demand letter. The demand letter will include your account of the accident, the evidence you’ve recovered that proves liability for the collision, a description of your injuries, and a demand for a specific amount of compensation.

After receiving your demand letter, the insurance company may investigate your claim further, accept your demand, or make a counteroffer. If the insurance company rejects this initial demand, your attorney can engage in settlement negotiations to try to reach a mutually agreeable compensation amount. Your lawyer might also pursue mediation, a more formal style of settlement negotiations facilitated by a neutral third party called a mediator.

As the deadline for taking legal action approaches, your lawyer may have to file a lawsuit to preserve your option to pursue compensation in court. Filing a suit can also put pressure on the insurance company to make a fair settlement offer and avoid a drawn-out court process. Contact our Georgia car accident lawyer today.

What Factors Affect How Long It Takes for My Case to Settle?

Car accident cases may take anywhere from a few weeks to a few years to settle. Various factors can affect the duration and timeline of the car accident settlement process, such as:

• The nature and severity of your injuries
• The duration of your medical recovery period
• Whether you suffer prolonged or permanent disabilities
• The amount of time you spend out of work or in a part-time or light-duty role
• The complexity of the evidence in your car accident case
• The number of potentially liable parties
• The number of other injured victims
• Whether you bear any responsibility for causing the crash
• The availability of insurance coverage
• The duration of the insurance company’s investigation
• How quickly the insurance company responds to your communications or settlement demands

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

Under Georgia’s regulations for first-party insurance claims with your own policy, an insurer has 15 days after receiving a policyholder’s claim to acknowledge receipt and provide them with proof of loss forms, if needed. Upon receiving completed proof of loss or claim forms, an insurer must accept or deny liability within 15 days. However, if the insurer does not require a proof of loss form, it has 30 days from receipt of the claim to investigate. Insurers can extend this deadline to 60 days after notifying the insured. Once the insurer accepts the claim and determines the amount owed, it must provide payment within 10 days.

In third-party insurance claims filed against the at-fault driver’s policy for injury compensation, insurers typically send payment within a few weeks after the parties have executed a written settlement agreement.

What Is the Statute of Limitations for Filing a Car Accident Claim in Georgia?

In Georgia, the statute of limitations typically requires you to file a car accident lawsuit within two years of a crash. Pursuing settlement negotiations with the other driver or their insurance company after filing a claim does not extend the deadline for filing your car accident lawsuit. If negotiations take too long to produce a settlement, you must file a lawsuit to preserve your right to seek compensation in court.

How Can a Lawyer Help Expedite My Car Accident Claim?

Unfortunately, insurance companies can drag out the car accident settlement process to pressure injured crash victims to accept less than fair value for their claims. Working with an experienced personal injury attorney can help expedite the claims. While you focus on your medical treatment and rehabilitation, let a lawyer from Spiva Law Group pursue the compensation you need by:

• Investigating the collision, recovering evidence, and building your injury claim
• Thoroughly documenting your injuries and losses to determine the full value of your claim
• Determining all possible options for financial recovery, including applicable insurance coverage
• Preparing and filing your insurance claims
• Communicating with insurance company representatives on your behalf
• Negotiating for full, fair compensation for your injuries and losses
• Filing a lawsuit and taking your case to court, if necessary

Our personal injury lawyer can help.

Contact a Georgia Car Accident Lawyer

The timeline to settle car accident claims in Georgia and recover compensation may be tighter than you think. After suffering injuries and property damage in a collision, hiring experienced legal counsel can make it easier to settle a car accident claim. Get the help you need to deal with the insurance companies and demand maximum financial recovery. Contact Spiva Law Group today for a free, no-obligation consultation with a knowledgeable Georgia car accident lawyer to learn what to expect during the claims process.