How Long Will It Take to Get My Settlement Check from a Car Accident?

All personal injury and car accident cases are different and include varying circumstances that can affect how long it takes to get a settlement check. In some cases, you may see a settlement check arrive in a matter of weeks, but that is not always the case for car accident personal injury cases.

Car accident cases can be complicated when one or more insurance companies are involved. This can often lead to a delay in getting your settlement check. It is important to work with an experienced personal injury lawyer to make sure that you are taking all the necessary steps to get the money you deserve as quickly as possible.

Steps to Complete a Personal Injury Claim

While you may be ready to receive your settlement check to cover your damages, you still need to complete several steps after a settlement is reached for your personal injury claim to be officially completed. After a settlement has been reached, the plaintiff must sign a settlement release form, which must then be processed.

From here, there are additional processes that must take place before you will receive a settlement check from a car accident case including processing by the defendant’s insurance company and final deductions from your settlement funds.

What Happens After You Sign a Settlement Release Form?

During the conclusion of a personal injury claim settlement process, a settlement release is a form that the plaintiff signs. The release will state that the plaintiff will no longer pursue legal recourse for the related accident. The plaintiff must sign and submit this form before the defendant’s insurance provider will distribute a check for the settlement amount.

Why You Sign the Release Form

Overall, a settlement release is used to protect the negligent, or at-fault party. It is used to ensure that the liable party cannot face additional lawsuits for the same injury suffered by the plaintiff in a car accident claim.

If you have been injured in a car accident and have completed settlement negotiations with the negligent party’s insurance company, you will likely be asked to sign a settlement release form. This document will protect the insurance company from any future legal action related to the accident.

You Can’t Sue Again for the Same Thing

It is important to remember that once you sign this form, you are legally bound to the terms of the agreement. If you later decide to sue the insurance company for additional damages, your case will likely be dismissed.

Before signing a settlement release form, be sure to speak with an experienced personal injury attorney. He or she can review the document and advise you on whether or not it is in your best interest to sign. They can advise you on whether or not you have received maximum compensation for your car crash injuries during the negotiation with the insurance adjuster.

Working with the Defendant’s Insurance Company

After the release is signed, it is processed and sent to the defendant’s insurance company. From here, the insurance company will close out your claim, which then allows them to send out a settlement check.

The Settlement Check Process

Once the defendant’s insurance company receives your release form, it usually takes several weeks for them to process the release and send out a settlement check. However, the time frame can vary depending on a number of factors, such as the amount of the settlement and the company’s processing times.

The check can potentially be sent to your lawyer, who will then place your funds into either a trust or an escrow account. If you have any potential medical liens for medical bills or unpaid debts, your lawyer will have to put some of your settlement money towards those debts.

Final Deductions to Your Settlement Check

Once liens or past debts are taken out of your settlement, your car accident lawyer will deduct their fees from the check. This can potentially be an agreed-upon hourly fee with added costs, or a percentage of your car accident settlement package.

Following the payment of your settlement’s deductions and fees, your personal injury attorney will send you a check with the remainder of your settlement money.

Why is my settlement check taking so long?

In some cases, personal injury victims may experience delays when seeking their settlement check. Various factors, such as additional preparation or release form specifications can lead to minor delays in receiving a settlement check for personal injury claims.

Speak to Your Lawyer

Be sure to discuss with your lawyer what the expected wait time for your check may be. Because every case is different, he or she will be able to give you a reasonable expectation for when your check may arrive. And, if there is a delay, they will be able to explain what will happen next in your car accident case.

Insurance Companies May Need Time

Additionally, the insurance company could simply require additional time to process your settlement. Depending on the insurance company, they may be backed up with personal injury claims to process or they may have an internal process that requires more work than usual.

Medical Liens or Debts

Any liens for medical bills or debts against you may also contribute to delays in injury settlement checks being delivered. When your lawyer gives a notice of liens against you, they must take time to investigate and verify the lien before deducting these funds from your personal injury case settlement. Your lawyer may also negotiate with lienholders to potentially lower the amount of money you owe.

Other Delays

Other delays are also possible for settlements from car accidents. If your lawyer is experiencing a delay in receiving the funds from the insurance company, you too will have to wait for your check. In some cases, your check could potentially get lost in the mail. Or, the insurance company’s processing capabilities could be the root cause of the delay.

This is why it’s critical to make sure you hire an attorney who makes your case a priority and will keep you informed of any delays in your case. At The Kryder Law Group, we make it our top priority to ensure our clients are taken care of and that they understand the process every step of the way.

Contact us today for a free consultation.

Call for a Free Consultation with The Kryder Law Group

At The Kryder Law Group, our team of experienced Chicago car accident lawyers can help you receive fair compensation for your damages from an auto accident. Following your accident, you may be entitled to compensation that can cover damages such as medical bills, lost wages, property damages, pain and suffering, and more.

Contact The Kryder Law Group for a free consultation with an experienced Chicago car accident attorney to determine if you have a case. When considering the compensation to which you may be entitled, your personal injury lawyer can also walk you through key factors necessary to maximize your compensation. These factors may include fault, insurance coverages from both parties, how the motor vehicle accident happened, and more.

Additionally, they can walk you through the legal process for a car accident lawsuit, step by step. They can answer your questions, like “how long does it take?” They can also evaluate how much your case may be worth, and estimate when you can expect to receive your car accident settlement check.

Avoid the annoyance of a delay with your injury settlement check by getting legal representation from a team of personal injury lawyers at our law firm that keeps you well informed and lets you know what to expect from the very first call.

Call today! We represent seriously injured car accident victims in Chicago.