Although car accidents may be over in the blink of an eye, sorting through their aftermath is anything but quick. If you are in the middle of an accident insurance claim or lawsuit, you may be wondering: Why is my Colorado car accident settlement taking so long?

By understanding what is potentially delaying your settlement, you may be able to implement measures to speed up the process.

Average Timeline of a Colorado Car Accident Settlement

Car accident settlements may take anywhere from a few months to over a year from start to finish. If you’re only negotiating a settlement with an insurance adjuster, expect something on the shorter end of the spectrum. But if you’re taking legal action, settlement negotiations could extend much longer.

If you initiated your claim a few months ago and are wondering why it seems to be going nowhere, you may simply need to wait it out. But if you are approaching a year, your legal representation should be able to give you a better idea of why the process has extended this long.

Factors Affecting Your Settlement Timeline

No two car accident cases are the same, which is why the timeline for finalizing settlements is so broad. Many factors may impact the duration of your case:

Liability disputes: If the other party and their insurance company are denying their liability for the accident, your lawyer may need to spend additional time proving fault and damages.
Claim investigation timeline: The investigation is one of the longest stages of the settlement process. Your attorney needs to spend time collecting evidence of the defendant’s negligence and building a solid case.
Court delays: If your case has proceeded to court, the court may need to delay hearings because of higher-priority cases that have entered the docket or other unforeseen delays.
Disagreements over damages: Your compensation award should fully cover the damages you incurred from the accident. But if the other party is disputing certain damages, you may need to provide additional evidence and spend time negotiating.
Medical delays: Your attorney may advise you to delay taking legal action until you understand your maximum medical improvement. This will enable you to seek damages that fully cover your past, current, and future medical expenses.
Defendant’s willingness to negotiate: Settlement negotiations may also take some time. The defendant’s willingness to compromise and negotiate a fair compensation award will affect your case timeline. If they refuse to budge, you may need to go to court, which will further delay your payout.

Ways To Speed Up the Compensation Process

While the answer to “Why is my Colorado car accident settlement taking so long?” is multi-faceted, you may be able to take a few steps to streamline this process:

Hire an experienced attorney. They will have the resources and skills to keep your case moving along and prevent avoidable delays.
Submit paperwork promptly. Give the insurance company all of the information it needs as soon as possible.
Seek a prompt and thorough medical evaluation. You will need comprehensive medical documentation to support your claim.
Document evidence wherever possible. Keep a pain log, take extensive photos of your vehicle damage and injuries, document all communications with relevant parties, and ensure the accuracy of the policy report. This will help speed up the investigation.

Let Our Attorneys Keep Your Case on Track

If you are wondering why your Colorado car accident settlement is taking so long, our attorneys will evaluate your case and provide a more personalized answer. Then, we will look for ways to streamline your payout and provide comprehensive representation.

Call Grant & Associates Law Firm today at 970-356-5666 or fill out our contact form for a consultation.