An Omaha Car Accident Lawyer at Berry Law Can Help You Receive a Fair Settlement For Your Car Accident Claim
When you are involved in a car accident in Omaha, the first thing crossing your mind is probably not the details of a car accident settlement. Most people involved in an auto accident are initially focused on their car accident injuries, medical bills, and potential lost wages. Eventually, they may wonder about filing a car accident lawsuit and whether the at-fault driver has sufficient insurance coverage.
If you’ve been injured in a car collision, once you receive medical attention, you should consult with an experienced Omaha car accident lawyer to discuss your legal options. A dedicated personal injury attorney at Berry Law can explain the insurance claim process and how you might recover a fair car accident settlement without having to file a lawsuit.
We Can Negotiate Car Accident Settlements With the Insurance Company on Your Behalf
While you are recovering from serious injuries and receiving important medical care, the last thing you need to worry about is an aggressive insurance adjuster or responding to lowball settlement offers. Instead, you can let our dedicated legal team deal with the insurance company on your behalf. We have extensive experience resolving car accidents, and we understand the car accident settlement process and the games insurers can play.
Most vehicle crash claims do not go all the way to a jury trial. Instead, the majority of personal injury claims are resolved by the injured person reaching an auto accident settlement with the at-fault driver’s insurance company.
What is the Typical Car Accident Settlement Process?
In general, when someone is injured due to another person’s negligence, the injured person has the right to request compensation from the responsible person to help pay for certain losses, known as legal damages. For example, car accident victims can typically request medical expenses, property damage, lost wages, pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and other auto accident-related losses. If the responsible person has insurance coverage, these damages are paid by their insurance company, not personally.
To request car accident compensation, the injured person must file a claim with the insurer. Usually, an experienced injury claim lawyer will prepare a demand letter. Successful car accident claims usually include:
- Specific details regarding the accident, including an accident report, photos, and witness statements,
- Proof of how the insured person caused the crash,
- Medical records describing the extent of injuries sustained in the accident and whether the injured person has reached maximum medical improvement or requires further treatment, and
- Proof of the financial losses suffered by the claimant.
How Long Does the Average Car Accident Settlement Take?
The length of time it takes to receive a car accident settlement in Omaha can be impacted by several factors. For example:
- Is the insurance company willing to admit liability on behalf of its policyholder?
- Does this company have a reputation for making fair offers?
- What type of settlement is most appropriate – a lump sum or structured payment plan?
- How severe are the claimant’s injuries?
- Is the injured person still receiving medical care and incurring more medical bills?
Other unusual circumstances may also affect the timeline for typical car accident settlements. Over the years, we’ve seen it all. In fact, our firm has an extensive history of helping injured people in Omaha navigate the settlement process as smoothly and as quickly as possible.
Once We Have Agreed on a Fair Compensation Amount, When Will I Receive My Auto Accident Settlement Payment?
Settlements are usually processed between 14 and 45 days. The process can generally be expedited by having the necessary tax forms available to the payor. Your car crash attorney can ensure you have fully reviewed and signed all of the required documents needed to facilitate settling the injury claim quickly.
There may be payment issues, such as structured settlements where an individual must wait for a payment over time. However, most claims for auto accident settlements generally do not have structured settlements.
Most settlements involve a release of liability. In other words, the injured person is releasing the other driver from future liability by accepting a certain settlement amount of money and agreeing they will not seek compensation through a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault party.
To finalize a personal injury case, the injured person needs to provide the necessary documents, sign all agreements, and have their attorney convey those back to the at-fault party’s insurance provider before they receive their settlement. A knowledgeable injury attorney can further explain how different circumstances can affect the length of time it may take to receive a settlement.
Issues that May Lead to a Car Accident Settlement Taking Longer Than Average
The most frustrating issue you may experience while your lawyer is negotiating a settlement is an insurance adjuster who does not play fair. The adjuster may not agree with how serious your damages are or how much you have suffered when evaluating your claim. If this happens, you may face consistently low offers compared to the damages you suffered. Remember, insurance companies are in business to make money, not pay your personal injury claim.
Dealing with unreasonable adjusters can prolong the settlement process because if you have not received a fair settlement offer, your lawyer must continue to negotiate or file a civil court case. However, once a settlement is reached, it is processed according to the insurance company’s payment protocol and can take a few weeks to process, depending on how long it takes to get through their system. An experienced attorney can work to reach a fair settlement in as little time as possible.
Why You Should Work With an Experienced Attorney to File a Car Accident Claim
Before settling any auto accident claim, you must be sure you are fully healed from your injuries and do not require future medical treatment. Or, you must have a solid understanding of what care you will require in the future and how much it will cost. Also, you need to know how to place a fair value on intangible losses such as the loss of life enjoyment or loss of consortium. A dedicated personal injury lawyer at Berry Law can help you recover the maximum compensation possible under your unique circumstances.
Keep in mind that once you sign settlement documents with an insurance company, that is the end of your right to recover any further money from the at-fault party. Your settlement amount must cover all current and future expenses and losses because you cannot go back and ask for more. Therefore, it is important to have the guidance of a skilled attorney throughout the car accident settlement process.
Talk to an Omaha Car Accident Lawyer at Berry Law to Understand the Omaha Car Accident Settlement Process
A skilled attorney can help you minimize potential issues that may result in delays in receiving an Omaha car accident settlement. With our help, you will receive the money you need in as little time as possible. To discuss your situation, call Berry Law today at 402-466-8444 or fill out our online contact form for a free consultation.
