What is the Average California Car Accident Settlement Length?

Waiting for fair compensation can be one of the most difficult aspects of personal injury recovery. The typical California car accident settlement length can vary depending on the accident’s complexity and each party’s expectations. Some personal injury cases are resolved within a few months, while others may take several years to reach a resolution. Although there is no standard timeline for injury settlement claims, an experienced personal injury firm can provide a well-informed estimate based on the unique circumstances of your case.

After an accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you need a knowledgeable ally by your side throughout your recovery journey. Covering the costs of medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering should not fall on your shoulders. At United Citizen Law, our reliable team is dedicated to maximizing settlement amounts to help you rebuild your life. As one of the highest-rated personal injury law firms in Sacramento, we handle the complex negotiations and legal proceedings so you can focus on healing.

To find out what your case may be worth and how long the process could take, call us at (916) 800-8457 or share your case with us online.

What Determines the Settlement Process’s Length?

If a car accident settlement in California has no set length, then what determines a case’s duration? Several factors influencing a case’s timeline are outside the plaintiff’s control. One of the most frustrating and time-consuming aspects of personal injury cases is insurance company delay tactics. Insurers often drag out proceedings in an attempt to wear down the plaintiff’s patience and willingness to pursue fair compensation. Without legal representation, insurance providers may exploit your lack of legal familiarity to reduce liability. It’s crucial to consult a personal injury attorney before engaging in any communication with the at-fault party’s insurer.

The victim’s injuries can also significantly affect the time between accident and settlement. Generally, the more severe and long-lasting the injuries, the longer the case is likely to take. While this may be inconvenient for victims in the short term, a longer timeline is often necessary to accurately assess the full extent of damages. Severe injuries may require years of recovery, and a fair settlement often depends on how the healing process unfolds. The last thing you want is to experience a major medical setback that your compensation doesn’t adequately cover.

Negotiations between your personal injury attorney and the at-fault party’s insurance provider also have a strong bearing on the case’s timeline. The defendant’s initial settlement offer is often a telling indicator of how long the case might take to resolve. If the initial offer falls significantly short of what the victim and their attorney consider fair, the resulting negotiations can substantially extend the process. Large gaps between the offered and desired settlement amounts often stem from active disputes over the accident’s details. While some cases inevitably require time to reach resolution, it’s essential for victims to remain patient and trust their personal injury law firm to secure fair compensation from the insurance provider.

What Happens During the Car Accident Settlement Timeline?

Though no car accident settlement in California has a predetermined length, the claim process unfolds roughly the same for most cases. If the at-fault driver’s insurance company is willing to offer compensation, they will typically reach out in the weeks or months following the accident with an initial settlement offer. This offer often covers the bare minimum of damages, such as medical expenses already incurred. If you choose to reject the offer, you and your personal injury attorney will prepare and submit a demand letter to the at-fault driver’s insurance provider. This letter outlines your account of the accident, the nature and severity of your injuries, and your intent to file a personal injury lawsuit if fair compensation is not provided by a specified date. If no resolution is reached, your personal injury lawyer will proceed by filing a formal complaint with the California Superior Court.

Once the complaint is filed, the discovery process begins, during which evidence is gathered to clarify the case’s disputed facts. Common types of information collected during discovery include:

• Medical documentation
• Police incident reports
• Witness statements
• Traffic camera footage

As more evidence is uncovered and the facts of the accident are established, the fair value of the victim’s settlement becomes clearer. Ideally, by this stage, the at-fault driver’s insurance provider will agree to settle in order to avoid going to trial. If a settlement is not reached before the trial date, your personal injury firm will represent you in court and work to secure the maximum compensation available.

What Types of Car Accident Cases Take Longest to Settle?

The length of the settlement process also depends on the nature of the accident. As previously noted, cases involving severe or catastrophic injuries often take longer to resolve due to the extended recovery period. These settlements tend to involve significant compensation, prompting insurance providers to delay proceedings in an effort to minimize their financial exposure. We encourage victims to remain patient and trust their personal injury firm to pursue the full compensation they deserve.

Complex liability scenarios can also lead to lengthy negotiations and discovery processes. When an accident involves multiple drivers or shared fault among several parties, proceedings can become significantly more challenging. Coordination between multiple insurance providers prolongs the settlement timeline, especially when the facts of the incident are disputed. Regardless of how long the case takes to resolve, it’s essential to trust your personal injury lawyer to fight for the full compensation you need to cover all potential expenses.

How Can I Speed Up the Settlement Process?

While we can’t recommend prioritizing speed over fairness in settlement outcomes, certain proactive measures can help shorten the duration of a case. Some of the administrative tasks involved in the discovery process may be reduced when accident victims take the initiative to collect key information shortly after their incident. Helpful materials for expediting evidence include:

• Medical records, along with the names of healthcare providers and facilities visited
• Contact information for any accident witnesses
• Written or recorded descriptions of post-accident symptoms and injuries

Your personal injury law firm can obtain relevant documents and evidence on your behalf, but gathering these records in the days immediately following the accident can help consolidate the process. However, the most important step any accident victim can take is to prioritize their recovery above all else.

How a Personal Injury Lawyer Can Manage the Settlement Process

Personal injury cases can take time, and you’ll want an attorney who fights for you every step of the way. From the first consultation to the final settlement payout, United Citizen Law is the Sacramento personal injury law firm that puts clients first. We negotiate fiercely on your behalf to secure the maximum compensation possible for every case. If you’ve been injured due to someone else’s negligence in the Sacramento area, your path to justice starts here.

To learn the potential value and timeline of your case, call United Citizen Law at (916) 800-8457 or tell us about your case on our website.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.

Article written by Carl Roth