After a car accident in Oklahoma City, OK, you may be eager to settle your claim and put the financial strain of the crash behind you. Unfortunately, there is no set amount of time that an Oklahoma City car accident case takes to settle.
A straightforward claim involving clear fault and relatively minor injuries may move faster than a case involving serious injuries, disputed liability, or multiple insurance companies. Before accepting a settlement, it is important to know the full extent of your injuries and losses.
How Long Does a Car Accident Settlement Usually Take?
Car accident claims may take anywhere from a few months to much longer to resolve. There is no reliable average because every claim involves different injuries, evidence, insurance coverage, and disputes.
A case may move relatively quickly when fault is clear, medical treatment is complete, and the insurer agrees on the value of the claim. More complicated cases may require extensive investigation, prolonged negotiations, or a lawsuit before the parties reach an agreement.
What Factors Can Affect How Long My Car Accident Case Takes?
Several issues can affect how quickly your case progresses, including:
- The severity of your injuries
- How long you need medical treatment
- Whether you will require future medical care
- Whether the other driver disputes fault
- The number of parties involved
- The amount of available insurance coverage
- The strength of the available evidence
- Whether the insurer disputes the value of your losses
Cases involving permanent injuries or uncertain long-term effects may require more time because your future medical and financial losses must also be considered.
Why Is It Important To Reach Maximum Medical Improvement Before Settling?
Maximum medical improvement (MMI) is the point at which your medical condition has stabilized and further substantial improvement is not expected. Reaching MMI can make it easier to assess the long-term effects of an injury.
Settling too early may create problems if you later learn that you need surgery, additional rehabilitation, or other expensive treatment. A permanent disability could also affect your ability to work and earn income.
Not every accident victim must reach MMI before settling. However, the likely course of your injuries should be reasonably clear before you agree to compensation intended to resolve your claim permanently.
What Happens During the Car Accident Settlement Process?
A car accident claim usually requires gathering information about the crash, documenting your injuries and losses, and negotiating with the insurance company.
While each case is different, the settlement process often includes:
- Investigating the accident
- Gathering medical records and other evidence
- Documenting your financial losses
- Calculating your damages
- Sending a settlement demand to the insurance company
- Negotiating with the insurer
- Reaching and finalizing a settlement
The amount of time each step takes varies from one case to another. Some claims move through these stages quickly, while others require additional investigation or negotiation.
What Can Delay an Oklahoma City Car Accident Settlement?
Some car accident claims take longer because additional information is needed or disputes arise during negotiations.
Common causes of delays include:
- Disputes over who caused the accident
- Serious injuries that require ongoing medical treatment
- Multiple drivers or other liable parties
- Insurance coverage disputes
- Missing or conflicting evidence
- Difficulty obtaining medical or employment records
- Disagreements over the value of your damages
These issues may need to be resolved before the parties can reach a settlement.
Will Filing a Lawsuit Make My Car Accident Case Take Longer?
Usually, litigation takes longer than resolving an insurance claim through negotiations. A lawsuit can involve written discovery, document exchanges, depositions, expert witnesses, motions, and court hearings.
Filing a lawsuit does not necessarily mean your case will go to trial. Settlement discussions can continue while the lawsuit is pending, and many cases settle before a trial becomes necessary.
Litigation may be appropriate when an insurer disputes liability, refuses to offer adequate compensation, or when other issues prevent the parties from reaching an agreement.
Should I Accept an Early Settlement Offer To Resolve My Case Faster?
An early offer can be appealing when medical bills and lost income are creating financial pressure. However, speed is not the only consideration.
An insurer may make an offer before the full extent of your injuries is known. If you accept the settlement and sign a release, you generally cannot return later and seek additional compensation for the same claim.
Before accepting an offer, the value of your current medical expenses, future treatment, lost income, reduced earning capacity, and non-economic losses should be considered.
How Long Do I Have To File a Car Accident Lawsuit in Oklahoma?
Oklahoma law imposes a deadline for filing most car accident injury lawsuits. An action for injury to the rights of another that is not based on contract generally must be filed within two years. The applicable deadline can vary in certain circumstances.
It is also important to distinguish the statute of limitations from the time it takes to settle a claim; negotiating with an insurance company does not necessarily extend the deadline for filing a lawsuit.
Contact McIntyre Law To Schedule a Free Consultation With an Oklahoma City Car Accident Lawyer
There is no fixed timeline for settling a car accident case in Oklahoma. The length of the process can vary based on your injuries, medical treatment, available evidence, insurance negotiations, and any disputes over fault or compensation. More complicated cases may also take longer if filing a lawsuit becomes necessary.
Waiting for a fair resolution can take time, but settling too early may leave important losses unaccounted for. If you were injured in a crash, contact McIntyre Law at (405) 917-5200 for a free consultation with an Oklahoma City car accident attorney.