If you were injured in a car accident in Encino, California, you’re likely anxious to learn when you can expect your settlement funds to help cover your medical bills, make up your lost income, and pay for car repairs. Settlement timelines vary in each case.
An experienced Encino car accident attorney from JUSTICENTER Personal Injury Lawyers can explain your anticipated timeline based on factors specific to your case. Contact us at (833) 852-3600 for a free case review.
Why Choose JUSTICENTER Personal Injury Lawyers to Help With Your Car Accident Case in Encino?
JUSTICENTER Personal Injury Lawyers was established more than four decades ago to help accident victims in Encino, CA, recover meaningful compensation after they were injured due to someone else’s negligence.
Our attorneys have been recognized as Best Lawyers, Southern California Super Lawyers, and Martindale Hubbell AV Preeminent 5.0. We have over 105 years of combined experience and have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for personal injury victims.
When you retain our Encino personal injury lawyers for your case, we can help guide you through the insurance claims process. You may be unfamiliar with the process or vulnerable to the tactics insurance companies play to delay, devalue, and deny claims.
Time is of the essence. Contact us today for a free consultation with an Encino car accident lawyer.
Factors That Affect How Long Your Car Accident Case Will Take to Settle
The timeline for settling a California car accident case depends on many factors. From proving liability to calculating damages and negotiating with the insurance company, each step can impact how quickly—or slowly—your case moves forward.
Below are some of the key issues that can influence the process.
Who Is Responsible for Your Injuries
California is an at-fault state for car insurance. As such, the driver found at fault is responsible for paying for the damages they cause through their negligence. All drivers in California are required to maintain minimum amounts of liability coverage or be self-insured to cover these costs.
There are special rules for commercial drivers. For example, trucking companies may have commercial liability insurance of $1 million.
Sometimes, multiple parties may be responsible for an accident. If liability is in dispute, personal injury claims may take longer to resolve. A thorough investigation can help identify all parties at fault and the factors that contributed to the accident.
Severity of Your Injuries
Car accidents can cause various injuries, ranging from mild to catastrophic injuries.
Common car accident injuries include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Orthopedic injuries
- Broken and dislocated bones
- Organ damage
- Soft tissue injuries
- Amputations
Your personal injury lawyer may recommend that you reach maximum medical improvement (MMI) before you settle your case. This is the point in your recovery where you have recovered as much as possible, and your damages can be more accurately calculated—the more severe your injuries, the longer your recovery period.
Damages You Sustained
Car accident victims may be able to recover compensation for their accident-related injuries and losses, including:
- Past and current medical expenses
- Future medical expenses
- Lost wages and diminished earning capacity
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Reduced quality of life
The more significant your damages, the harder the insurance company will fight to prevent you from recovering compensation.
Whether Your Case Settles or Goes to Trial
Cases that settle generally take less time to resolve than those that go to trial. Our car accident attorneys can often secure a favorable settlement without the need for trial. However, if the insurance company refuses to make a fair settlement offer, your only choice may be to go to trial.
In California, there is a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury cases. If you don’t file a personal injury lawsuit within two years of the accident, you can forfeit your right to recover compensation through the civil justice system. We can help ensure that your case is filed in a timely manner to prevent this outcome.
Whether You Contributed to the Accident
California’s pure comparative negligence system applies when accident victims contribute to the accident that caused their injuries. Under this system, an accident victim’s compensation is reduced by their degree of fault. If you contributed to the accident, the insurance company may try to assign a larger portion of fault to you. Sorting this out may add to the lifeline of your case.
Contact Our Encino Car Accident Lawyers for a Free Consultation
If you were injured in a car accident, JUSTICENTER Personal Injury Lawyers can help. We can evaluate your particular case and provide a more accurate estimate of how long it might take to resolve after thoroughly investigating it. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation with our Encino car accident attorneys.
