How Long Does a Car Accident Settlement Take? (2025)

Car Accident Settlement Timeline

Here is a general timeline for car accident settlements:

Factors That Impact The Car Accident Settlement Time

While the timeline above gives you an idea of what to expect, keep in mind that personal injury cases are unique from one another. Your whiplash case may not settle as quickly as a friend’s whiplash case because past injuries, life circumstances and accident facts are not the same.

Your timeline depends on specific factors, including:

• Injury severity: Minor car accidents are worth less than those causing severe injuries. But these cases also settle quicker because plaintiffs require less healing time and often bounce back to their daily lives. Plaintiffs with head injuries or multiple fractures take more time to finish treatment and rehabilitation, which also delays settlement discussions.
• The number of parties: Accidents involving multiple vehicles may take longer due to the time needed to separate property damage, liability and injuries. If multiple parties are liable, it can also take additional time to assess the percentage of liability and who pays which damages.
• Type of defendants: Cases involving two individuals take less time because insurance and responsibility issues are frequently uncomplicated. But a commercial truck accident may take longer because several parties may be liable in these cases, including the driver, their employer, repair crew and anyone else involved in that truck’s day-to-day business.
• Disputed liability: It is usually clear who is at fault in a rear-end accident. A driver hits the back of another car because they’re not paying attention. But t-bone accidents may raise disputes about who ignored a traffic signal or exceeded a speed limit. In some of these cases, even if you're found partially at fault, you may still be able to recover compensation depending on your state's laws.. Determining these facts takes time, which delays settlement.
• .Insurance efficiency: Many insurance companies process claims efficiently, but some can respond slowly or delay your claim. Working with a lawyer can help ensure your claim is processed effectively. Some state agencies, like the California Department of Insurance, also accept consumer complaints if insurance companies fail to process your claim within set deadlines.
• Legal process: If your case is slow to settle, your attorney will likely file a lawsuit to preserve the statute of limitations (time limit for filing a lawsuit.) Settlement discussions can continue, but the insurance company will likely refer your to their legal counsel, which can add time. Hearings and discovery processes in the court system will extend your timeline, too.
• Other factors: Never dismiss the impact of the unexpected. For example, evidence availability and witness cooperation also play a role in how quickly your case can settle.

How Long Does a Car Accident Settlement Take With a Lawyer?

Generally, lawyers speed up the settlement process because an insurance adjuster is more likely to take your case seriously. Also, since accident attorneys have vast experience dealing with insurance companies and getting settlements, they are less likely to miss deadlines or make mistakes that will delay your settlement. Additionally, they can ensure you receive fair compensation, even in cases involving no visible injuries, which insurers may undervalue.

Also, keep in mind that you are recovering from injuries. Time spent managing pain or visiting doctors is time not spent discussing your accident with an adjuster. Delegating these tasks to a lawyer allows you to focus on feeling better while your attorney deals with the claims process. That alone can also speed up a settlement.

Is Settling Your Car Accident Case the Right Choice?

It can be tempting to settle your car accident case as quickly as possible. Negotiating with insurance providers can be stressful, and settling means you can put the accident behind you.

However, it also risks leaving you on the hook for expenses the settlement didn’t cover. Many insurance adjusters push you to settle before you finish treatment, which leaves many people with uncovered medical bills.

Once you finalize a settlement, you cannot go back for more later. When you settle, you agree to the amount as coverage for all your claims. You can’t go back and sue, or renegotiate if you discover another injury or condition arising from the accident.

Benefits of Hiring a Car Accident Lawyer

The best benefit of hiring a car accident lawyer is avoiding lowball offers. An attorney will discuss every offer with you and explain what it covers. If it’s way short of your medical bills or just a pushy proposition to get rid of your case, they will shield you from that and help you make an informed decision.

The Insurance Research Council found 85% of personal injury case settlements, including car accident cases, involved a lawyer. The same research found that settlements handled by lawyers resulted in 3.5 times higher settlement values.

But what about fees? Isn’t hiring an attorney more expensive? No. Car accident lawyers take cases on contingency, meaning they only get paid their fees after you receive compensation. It is in their best interest to recover the most they can on your behalf.

Injured in an accident? ConsumerShield can help. Complete our online form to schedule a case review with an experienced attorney.