It takes no set amount of time to settle a car accident case in Nashua, NH. You must go through many steps before you reach the settlement stage, and claims can play out over time. Along the way, the insurance company may either rush or drag out the process, depending on what adjusters think is necessary to gain the upper hand in negotiations.
The one constant is that you need the help of an experienced car accident lawyer in Nashua, NH to have the best possible chance of getting the most money. The right attorney can keep your case on the right track according to your circumstances.
You May Need to Wait to File Your Claim
Never file a car accident claim right after the crash.
First, you may not know the full extent of your damages. Second, your car accident lawyer needs to take time to investigate your accident and learn the true amount of money that you need to seek. It can take time before your car accident attorney can file a claim or lawsuit on your behalf.
Your car accident lawyer will gather evidence to build the strongest claim possible. They will likely wait until you have recovered or you realize the full extent of your injuries and future medical needs before filing a formal demand with insurers. Trust a legal professional regarding the timing of this process.
The Insurance Company Introduces Delays Into the Process
Once you have filed a claim, the insurance company may take their time in responding to you. Some of that time is spent evaluating your case and determining whether to accept liability.
The rest of that time may create delays. Insurance companies believe they have time on their side in a car accident case because they have the funds you need. They want you to accept whatever they offer you because your financial situation demands it.
Even when the insurance company makes you a settlement offer, it is far from the end of the story. Chances are that the initial settlement offer will not pay what you actually deserve. The insurance company also makes low settlement offers to add time to the process and gain leverage over you in negotiations.
In some cases, they just want to see what you will accept and get an idea of your negotiating position. The initial settlement offer is more of an opening in the negotiations than a real attempt to reach an agreement with you.
You Will Need to Negotiate With the Insurance Company
Car accident settlements may unfold over an extended period. Once you receive a settlement offer, your car accident lawyer will review it with you and advise whether you should accept or reject it.
If you reject the settlement offer, you may come back with your own counteroffer. The insurance company may respond with its own raised offer.
Each exchange of figures can add time to your case. The insurance company is rarely pressed for a quick resolution of your case. They want to keep their money for as long as possible and add more time to your case.
You do not have to let the insurance company keep adding time to the process as they choose.
Your car accident lawyer can add a sense of urgency to the process. The insurance company cannot keep your case in the claims process forever.
At a certain point, you may have no choice but to take your case to court by filing a lawsuit against the responsible driver. You can do this at any point, based on advice from your car accident attorney.
Filing a Lawsuit May Add More Time to Your Case
Insurance companies often want to avoid car accident litigation. Lawsuits raise business costs, and a jury might order the insurer to pay more than it might have given you in a settlement agreement. If your car accident lawyer indicates they will take your case to court, it may make the insurance company move quicker to fairly settle your case.
The insurance company knows your claim’s true settlement value practically right after receiving it. They will only increase their offer to you over time to something that approaches the amount. Nothing says the insurer cannot offer to pay you this amount of money immediately, though this is rare.
The one constant in a car accident claim is that you must exercise patience. If you are impatient, it will cost you money.
Rushing only plays into the insurance company’s hands, and it may get away with paying less than you deserve if you accept a quick settlement offer that is not in your best interests. Only when the insurance company sees you are resolute will adjusters realize they cannot push you around in the settlement process.
You may allow a certain amount of time for the legal process to play out before you consider taking firm legal action. You always have the right to file a personal injury lawsuit in New Hampshire civil court at any time, and your car accident attorney will remind the insurance company of that.
Consult a Nashua Car Accident Lawyer Today
Although you cannot control everything in a car accident claim, the one ball that is in your court is when you choose to hire an attorney to represent you in the legal process.
Even if your case may take a long time, you need legal representation. Otherwise, you open yourself up to many tactics the insurance company uses to compromise your case.
Hiring a Nashua injury attorney for your case costs nothing. Call for a free consultation now.