Timeline of a Car Accident Claim in Yonkers

Getting a settlement for a car crash incident is not just over and done with in a matter of hours. Insurance companies will want to pay out as little as possible, potentially forcing you to either take a lowball offer or go to court. At StolzenbergCortelli, LLP, our car accident attorneys could advise you on what to expect with the timeline of a car accident claim in Yonkers.

How Long Does it Take to Come to a Settlement?

If there is only minor medical treatment for a short amount of time, a lawyer can get started on negotiating the settlement right away. But if someone is having years of treatment, it could affect the amount of time it takes to secure the settlement. Factors that affect the length of time it takes to come to a settlement include how long someone is treating, how long they are out from work, and how extensive their treatment was.

How Can This Be Expedited?

The process can be expedited by having an injured person get the medical treatment right away after the accident and informing their lawyers about what treatment they have gotten. Keeping a lawyer in the loop from the beginning means they can get updated medical records after every visit, so they are not chasing down all the doctors at the end of the case when they are trying to settle. It could take a couple of weeks to get medical records in some cases, especially from hospitals, which eats up valuable time.

People injured in a car crash should be prompt and go to the treatment when they are supposed to, letting the lawyers know which doctors they see and when, and how much time they missed from work. All of that can contribute to the value of the settlement because it is a lot easier to build a case over time as that information comes in, as opposed to dealing with it all the last minute.

Issues When Negotiating a Settlement

If the insurance company is looking to settle, but a lawyer needs to track down the treating doctor, then that might cause delay. Furthermore, the insurance companies are a business and need to look out for their own interests. A personal injury lawyer’s duty is to look after a client’s interests and get them the most money possible for the case that they have. The insurance companies are not willing to offer too much money for some cases.

In New York, there is a serious injury threshold. If a plaintiff does not meet the serious injury threshold, that does not guarantee they cannot settle their case and get some money. However, they need to do it before the insurance company moves to dismiss due to the plaintiff not meeting the serious injury threshold.

The Value of an Attorney

A lawyer from StolzenbergCortelli, LLP can help with the process by making sure the plaintiff is keeping up to date with the medical treatment, continuing to give them the information that they need to settle the case or to go further with it. Attorneys understand every aspect of this process and their goal is to keep the injured plaintiff on track as they get their treatment. Car accident claims can drag on, so a plaintiff needs to balance the economic cost and time it will take to fully litigate a case. This might mean approving a settlement in order to avoid trial.

Discuss the Timeline of an Auto Accident Claim with a Yonkers Attorney

There are pros and cons to settling your claim vs. taking it to trial. The best thing you can do is consult with legal counsel and keep them updated on your entire recovery process. Set up a consultation with us and we can discuss the timeline of a motor vehicle claim in Yonkers.