One of the most common questions we hear is how long to receive injury compensation after an accident. Understandably, clients often expect a quick resolution, and many ask just days after their doctor discharges them, “how soon can I settle my case?” No attorney can ever guarantee that a case will settle, much less promise an exact date. Still, based on decades of experience, we can share a realistic expectation of when we are likely to hear from the insurance carrier.
What Has to Happen Before an Offer
That timetable is only an estimate of when we can communicate with the liability adjuster. It does not predict whether an offer will be made or whether any offer will be reasonable. First, we depend on your treating physicians, hospitals, and radiologists to send the bills and records. In addition, we often need wage-loss documentation, which you and your employer generate. Once the adjuster receives everything, the adjuster must evaluate the claim and obtain authority to make an offer, and that step takes roughly four to six weeks on average.
The records-gathering stage is frequently the slowest part of the entire process. A busy medical office may take several weeks to produce a complete file, and a single missing record can delay the adjuster’s review. Therefore, we stay in regular contact with your providers and follow up often so that your file moves forward as quickly as the circumstances allow.
Why Patience Often Pays Off
If the process runs longer, as it frequently does, filing suit right away is not always in your best interest. Settling before a lawsuit is usually preferable because it costs less and takes less time. Litigation can stretch on for months or even years. Moreover, the attorney’s percentage often increases once suit is filed, and the costs of prosecuting the case rise through filing fees, deposition costs, and service of process.
Listen to Your Attorney’s Advice
Your attorney owes you a fiduciary duty to give advice that serves your best interest. If the time since the adjuster received the documents is not unusual, waiting for an offer may be the wiser choice. You cannot wait forever, of course, but you should let your attorney guide the timing. Patience here is not passive, because a well-documented claim that is presented at the right moment often leads to a stronger result. For general background on insurance in the District, you can review the DC Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking.
If you have been injured, our experienced personal injury lawyers and car accident lawyers are available for a free consultation.
