How Long Do Car Accident Cases Take?

If you were injured in an automobile collision caused by someone else, you may be wondering how long car accident cases typically take to resolve. This knowledge will allow you to plan accordingly, and it will help you make informed decisions with your long-term best interests in mind.

While we would love to be able to provide a straightforward answer about how long car accident cases usually take, this is simply not possible. Every claim is unique. Some car accident cases settle in a matter of weeks, while cases that go to trial can easily take a year or longer.

5 Factors That Affect How Long Car Accident Cases Take

With this in mind, here is an overview of some of the main factors that impact how long it takes for car accident cases to resolve in Nevada:

1. What Evidence Is Available to Establish Liability for the Accident?

When it comes to car accident cases, there are two main things you need to prove. The first is liability. To establish your right to just compensation, you need to prove that the other driver (or some other party) is liable for causing the crash.

Proving liability requires a thorough investigation—and this investigation should take place as soon as possible. Your lawyer will need to gather the available evidence before it disappears. The more evidence you can present in your case, the more difficult it will be for the insurance companies to deny liability. Disputes regarding liability can add to the amount of time it takes to recover the financial compensation you deserve.

2. Did You Seek Treatment Immediately After the Accident?

The second thing you need to prove when you have a case is how much you are entitled to recover. Among other things, this requires evidence of your injuries. With this in mind, it is important to seek treatment as soon after your car accident as possible. If you wait to seek treatment, the insurance companies will use this against you, and this will also add to the time it takes to resolve your case.

3. What Type(s) of Claim(s) Do You Need to File?

Another important factor for determining how long your car accident case will take is the type(s) of claim(s) you need to file. There are several possibilities, including:

• A claim under the other driver’s auto insurance policy
• A claim under your (or a family member’s) auto insurance policy
• A claim against the other driver’s employer or rideshare company
• A product liability claim against a vehicle manufacturer
• A claim against a government agency or road construction contractor

All drivers in Nevada are required to have auto insurance—so the driver who hit you should be covered. But, you can only file a claim under the other driver’s policy if he or she was at fault in the accident. Your lawyer will be able to determine which claim(s) you need to file in order to recover the financial compensation you deserve.

4. Will the Insurance Companies Act in Good Faith?

Since recovering just compensation for a car accident almost always involves dealing with the insurance companies, another key factor is whether the insurance companies will act in good faith. While the insurance companies are required to act in good faith under Nevada law, they don’t always follow the law.

In an ideal scenario, the insurance companies will accept your lawyer’s evidence of liability and damages, and they will make a reasonable settlement offer based on the facts of your case. But, if this does not happen, negotiating a fair settlement could take much longer, and you may need to take your case to court.

5. Do You Have an Experienced Car Accident Lawyer on Your Side?

Regardless of the facts of your case, hiring an experienced car accident lawyer is one of the most important steps you can take to improve your chances of receiving a fair settlement as quickly as possible. Hiring an experienced lawyer will help convince the insurance companies to take your case seriously, and it will show them that you are prepared to fight for your legal rights if necessary.

Discuss Your Case with a Las Vegas Car Accident Lawyer for FREE

If you were injured in a car wreck because of another driver’s negligence, you may be entitled to damages for your physical, financial, and emotional losses. The experienced car accident lawyers at Burg Simpson understand the hardships you may be facing, and we are committed to helping you pursue the full and fair compensation you deserve. We know the tactics insurance companies use to deny and devalue claims, and we are passionate about recovering the maximum compensation for our clients.

With offices in Las Vegas, we handle car accident cases throughout Nevada. If you need to know more about filing a claim, we invite you to get in touch.

Contact us online or at 702-668-2070 for a FREE case evaluation. Our attorneys work on a contingency basis, which means you don’t pay if we don’t win.