Louisiana Car Accident Settlement Timeline and Process [2024 Updated]

Emotions can run high after a car accident. These events often happen without warning, which can lead to panic and frustration. It’s easier to deal with events like this if you have a general idea of how they might resolve. The Louisiana car accident settlement timeline and process varies from case to case, but there are some similarities that can help you understand how long a case might take and what might be expected of you.

How Long Does a Car Accident Settlement Take?

A car accident settlement can take different amounts of time, depending on the circumstances. If the accident were particularly serious, then it would require more money to pay for injuries and property damage. These settlements can take time to resolve because of the large amount of money involved.

One other aspect that affects the length of a settlement is how many parties are involved. If there are more than two people involved in a car accident, then multiple insurance carriers and attorneys might have to negotiate who was at fault to determine damages. It can be tricky to figure out who was at fault, especially if there were lots of different people involved in the crash.

Accidents involving fatalities can also take longer to resolve than accidents where all parties survive. The toll a death can take on a family is immense, and these cases can be quite complicated. They also require large amounts of evidence to prove that an accident directly caused their death.

A Basic Roadmap for the Aftermath of a Car Accident

There are many different factors that can affect how a car accident might resolve, but most accidents result in a process that generally follows a set schedule:

1. Immediate Aftermath: Right after a car accident, it’s important to help keep everyone as safe as possible. Contact emergency services quickly. If you can, try to get the vehicle away from traffic to prevent further collisions. Do not attempt to move someone who is stuck in the vehicle because this can make their injuries worse. If circumstances allow, try to take photos and videos of the accident scene for later.
2. Medical Care: If your injuries are severe, it is probably a good idea to go with emergency services straight to the hospital. For less serious injuries, you might be able to wait until the accident is resolved. However, receiving a medical evaluation as quickly as possible after the accident is important to create documentation of your injuries. Even if you don’t feel injured, complications often pop up as time passes.
3. Consult an Attorney: Speak with an attorney about your accident. Be sure to give them any evidence you have from your accident, including a copy of the police report if you received a copy. They can inform you about the next steps, calculate how much you might expect to receive, and assist you with insurance negotiations.
4. Initial Claim and Negotiation: After filing the claim, an insurance adjuster might reach out to you for more information. Refer them to your attorney if possible so that they can negotiate a fair settlement. Settlement negotiations take a considerable amount of time, depending on the circumstances, and are usually made much easier with legal counsel.
5. Settlement or Litigation: Most car accident claims result in a settlement from an insurance company. In the rare event that a claim must go to court, a car accident lawyer can help increase your chances of receiving compensation for your injuries.

Timing can vary for your claim, but most of them follow these steps.

FAQs

What Should I Do Immediately After a Car Accident?

Immediately after a car accident, one of the first things to do is make sure everyone is safe. Check for injuries, and if possible, move the car as far from traffic as possible. Call emergency services and document as much evidence as you can while you wait for them to arrive. If you do not need to go to the hospital immediately, consider waiting for the police report so that you have a copy and can make sure it’s correct. Next, contact a personal injury lawyer.

What Factors Affect the Length of a Car Accident Settlement?

Some factors that affect the length of a car accident settlement include things like how severe the accident was, the level of injuries sustained, and how many people were involved in the accident. Collisions involving severe injuries or death typically take longer because they usually have a greater amount of damage. If there were multiple drivers involved, this increases the number of insurance companies that need to negotiate, normally making it take longer.

What Types of Compensation Can I Earn From a Car Accident Settlement?

Types of compensation earned from a car accident settlement include damages for injuries sustained as a result of the accident. They also include wages you might have missed out on from missing work. Some settlements also include emotional damage from mental anguish or suffering you experienced after a car accident. To learn more about how much your case might be worth, schedule a consultation with a car accident attorney.

What Do I Do if I Get Into a Car Accident With an Uninsured Driver?

If you get into a car accident with an uninsured driver, you won’t be able to file a claim with their insurance company if they were at fault. Most individuals have some kind of uninsured motorist coverage in their policy to address these situations, but it might not be enough to cover all the damage you experienced. In this case, you might need to consider working with a personal injury attorney to file a legal claim against the individual.

Simplify the Recovery Process

It’s normal to feel overwhelmed after a car accident. There are usually a lot of moving pieces that happen all at once, which can make the recovery process more difficult. That’s why it’s so important to contact an attorney to understand your situation and how you can negotiate a fair settlement. Schedule a consultation with Sanchez Burke, LLC today to learn more about how we can help you receive appropriate compensation for your injuries after a car accident.