Patience is the key to a big insurance payout

The injuries you suffered in the accident were severe, and the medical costs are almost as bad. You’re waiting on the insurance company to pick up the slack, but you may be waiting for quite a while.

Injuries cause billions of dollars in costs every year. If you’re one of the millions of people suffering after an accident, you’re likely waiting on an insurance payout to help with your recovery. While payment could be coming, you’re probably looking at a long wait while the process plays out.

A slow build

The road to recovery can be a long, but necessary journey:

• Building a claim: The first step in the process is likely putting your case together. Compiled evidence and collected medical records will have to be carefully looked over to see if you have a strong enough case. You may even need to finish medical treatment first to make sure you receive full compensation.
• Insurer’s process: The insurance company will likely go through their process following your accident. They’ll usually do their own interviews, evidence collection, and numbers crunching. They may not deny your claim outright, but rather try to determine an amount they’re willing to pay.
• Negotiations: Your insurer may be looking to cut the process short by offering you an amount well below what you’re expecting. This money can often be tempting if the medical costs are starting to tower over you, which is what they’re looking for. If they can’t meet your number, then it might be time to file suit.
• Discovering facts: Even when you’ve officially submitted a lawsuit, you’ll generally have to wait on the discovery process to unfold. This time period could include further interviews and document requests as both sides decide on how to best proceed with their case. The more complex the case, and the higher the stakes, the longer this part can take.

It could take years for your case to actually make it to court, and you may have a bit more waiting to do once you get there. Understanding how long the process takes can be crucial in planning for success. Make sure you know what you’re in for, and you could be on your way to getting the compensation you deserve.