If you were injured in a collision in Columbus, Georgia, you may be wondering how long it will take for your case to settle. We understand that car accident victims need their settlement funds to put a crash behind them and move forward. However, rushing to settle can result in much less money for your claim.
At Mark Casto Personal Injury Law Firm, we’ll focus on obtaining maximum compensation for your damages as quickly as possible without jeopardizing your settlement.
Our Columbus car accident lawyer has over 26 years of experience. He’s a skilled negotiator and fierce advocate for injured victims and their families. We have won millions of dollars in jury verdicts and settlements for our clients, and we’ll fight to get you the money you deserve.
Contact us today at (706) 940-4030 to schedule a free consultation with an experienced Columbus personal injury attorney.
How Our Columbus Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help If You’ve Been Injured in a Car Accident
Some car accident cases can be settled in a few months after the victim reaches maximum medical improvement. However, resolving claims could take a year or longer if the parties refuse to negotiate a fair settlement amount. Hiring an experienced lawyer ensures that your case does not stall during the process.
Our Georgia personal injury attorney receives top honors from leading national legal organizations. Attorney Mark Casto is included in the list of Georgia Super Lawyers, the National Trial Lawyers Top 100, and Elite Lawyers in Accidents & Injuries. He leads a team of legal professionals dedicated to obtaining the best possible outcome in your case.
When you hire our award-winning legal team at Mark Casto Personal Injury Law Firm, you can expect us to:
- Investigate the cause of your car accident to gather evidence and identify the responsible parties
- File insurance claims and handle all matters related to the claims
- Work with leading expert witnesses to gather additional evidence when necessary
- Document your damages to calculate how much your car accident case is worth
- Pursue all sources of compensation for your damages
- Negotiate fair accident settlements
- File a lawsuit and take your case to court if needed
If you were injured in a collision, call our law office to schedule a free case evaluation with an experienced car accident lawyer in Columbus, GA.
Timeline for a Car Accident Settlement in Columbus, GA
Each car accident claim is unique. The facts of the case determine the timeline for settlement. However, most car accident cases involve similar steps, as outlined below.
Investigation and Gathering Evidence
Our legal team will investigate the cause of your accident to determine how it occurred and who is responsible. We’ll gather evidence proving causation and fault to establish liability for your damages.
The duration of the investigation depends on the complexity of the accident. For example, commercial truck accidents take significantly longer to investigate than the average passenger vehicle collision. Crashes involving multiple vehicles can take longer to investigate than two-car accidents.
Reaching Maximum Medical Improvement
The duration of your recovery is a significant factor in determining how long a car accident case takes to settle. We don’t want to settle your case until you reach maximum medical improvement (MMI). MMI is when your doctor believes no further medical treatment is expected to improve your condition. You could make a full recovery, or you may have lifelong impairments.
Settling a case before you know whether you sustained permanent impairments could mean receiving less than your case is worth. A permanent disability could result in future damages for ongoing medical care, long-term personal/nursing care, diminished quality of life, and decreased earning capacity.
Settlement Negotiations
After you reach MMI, we’ll prepare a settlement demand letter to send to the insurance company or the at-fault driver. Most car accident cases are settled with the insurance provider. Negotiations could take several weeks or months as we go back and forth discussing settlement amounts.
Disbursement of Settlement Funds
If we agree on a settlement amount, all parties will sign a final settlement agreement, releasing each other from further liability for the claim. The insurance company will issue a check, which we’ll deposit into a trust account. When the funds clear, we’ll deduct our contingency fee, pay any outstanding medical liens, and issue the balance to you.
If the insurance company refuses to agree to a fair settlement amount, we can discuss filing a personal injury lawsuit. Our attorney will explain the pros and cons of filing a lawsuit and give you our opinion regarding accepting a settlement versus filing a lawsuit. The decision is ultimately yours to make, but we are here to give you our experienced advice based on handling thousands of cases successfully.
Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Columbus Car Accident Lawyer
We focus exclusively on personal injury matters at Mark Casto Personal Injury Law Firm. Call our office to request a free case review to discuss your case with an experienced Columbus car accident attorney.
