Car Accident Settlement Delays

The settlement process for car accident claims can stall for many reasons, including difficulty proving liability, missing evidence, purposeful delay tactics by insurance companies, ongoing medical treatment, and disagreements over the value of the claim. An experienced car accident attorney in Phoenix can expertly manage negotiations, keep the legal process moving forward, help prevent delays, and protect your rights to a fair settlement.

How Long Should a Car Accident Settlement Take?

In Arizona, car accident claims typically take anywhere from a few months to more than one year to settle. When serious injuries, fatalities, or multiple drivers are involved, it can take longer to determine who is at fault and negotiate an agreement that everyone agrees to.

To protect consumers, Arizona has laws that require insurance companies to stick to certain deadlines. For example, insurance companies need to acknowledge a claim within ten days and complete an investigation within thirty days. The insurance company can also be penalized for causing unnecessary delays and making lowball settlement offers.

10 Steps to a Car Accident Settlement

Every car accident settlement is different, but they often follow this process:

1. Claim filed within one to two weeks after an accident
2. Insurance company acknowledges the claim within ten business days
3. Investigation by insurance companies is completed within two to four weeks
4. Medical assessment and treatment can take weeks or months, depending on the injuries.
5. A demand letter is sent to the insurance company explaining the injuries and damages within one to two weeks after medical treatment is completed.
6. Negotiations take place over weeks or months, depending on the complexity of the case.
7. A settlement agreement is signed within a week after an agreement is reached.
8. Insurance payment received by your attorney within thirty days
9. Liens (if any) are settled, and a final review of the case is done.
10. Payment is made to the client after deducting legal fees and outstanding costs.

Even though Arizona has laws to keep car accident settlements moving forward, delays do happen.

Process for Car Accident Settlements in Arizona

Circumstances That Cause Settlement Delays

There are many reasons why a settlement takes longer than expected, such as:

•  Missing documentation: Gathering necessary evidence (e.g., police reports, medical records, damage estimates, etc.) takes time
• Disagreement over who is at fault, or a car accident settlement gets stuck in mediation
• Multiple vehicles are involved in the accident, adding to the complexity of the case
• Multiple insurance companies and legal teams are involved
• Uninsured or underinsured drivers
• Ongoing medical treatment can delay the calculation of medical expenses
• Insurance companies drag their feet despite Arizona laws
• Negotiation of settlements on unpaid medical bills
• Overloaded court schedule

How an Attorney Can Keep Settlements Moving Forward

An attorney can’t make a settlement magically happen overnight, but they can explain the car accident legal process, ensure all damages are covered, and apply pressure on insurance companies to settle your claim in a timely manner. Gage Mathers is a leading personal injury law firm in Phoenix. 

We don’t get paid until we win your case and receive a settlement payment, so we want to bring your case to a timely conclusion as much as you do. Call us today for a free consultation!

About the Author

Joseph D'Aguanno

Guided by the belief that being a highly skilled specialist in a narrow field is better than being ordinary in everything, Joseph “JD” D’Aguanno leads Arizona’s best personal injury law firm in Phoenix, AZ. Having extensive cross-training in pre-litigation negotiations and trial lawyer skills, with decades of experience, JD strives to provide clients with the most valuable legal services a personal injury lawyer can provide. Under his direction, Gage Mathers Law Group is an award-winning personal injury law firm providing aggressive representation to victims of a car accident, medical malpractice, dog bite, motorcycle accident, and other injurious events. Gage Mathers is trusted by thousands of lawyers and clients throughout the country because of their reputation for getting clients the maximum compensation they deserve.

Years of experience: Over 24 years
Bar number: 020421
Location: Phoenix, AZ
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