How Long Does it Take to Settle a Car Accident Lawsuit in Pennsylvania?
If you were injured in a serious car accident, you are likely seeking compensation from the negligent driver who struck you. If you have mounting medical bills to pay and extensive car repairs to make, it may seem like a car accident lawsuit will take forever to get you the compensation you need. There is no direct way to tell how long your car accident lawsuit will take, but there are various factors that can affect the length of your case. If you or a family member was injured in a car accident, you should consult with an experienced Philadelphia car accident lawyer. The legal team at The Reiff Law Firm understands the adverse consequences of being a victim of a car accident, and we will fight for you. The Reiff Law Firm’s attorneys explain how long it takes to settle a car accident lawsuit in Pennsylvania.
How Your Injuries Can Affect Your Car Accident Case
A serious car accident can leave you with long-term or even permanent injuries. In some circumstances, you may even sustain latent injuries that do not exhibit symptoms for weeks or possibly months. It is important to be aware of the full extent of your injuries if you want to be adequately compensated, so you should always seek medical care.
Generally, the type of injury you may sustain in an accident depends on the circumstances of the collision. For example, many cases of whiplash are caused when a negligent driver rear-ends another motorist’s vehicle. The impact from this collision could cause the victim’s head and neck to rapidly swing forward and then snap back into place. This sudden and often unexpected motion commonly causes whiplash. Serious symptoms of whiplash include reduced motion in your neck, strains, sprains, and even spinal cord injuries.
Another type of injury that may occur because of a car accident is a brain injury. The type and severity of brain injury often depend on the force of impact and various other factors. For example, hitting your head on a hard surface like a windshield may result in a severe traumatic brain injury, but striking your head against a soft airbag may result in lesser injuries. A victim of a traumatic brain injury may exhibit the following signs and symptoms:
- Decreased mental functions
- Inability to properly control motor functions
- Issues concentrating or remembering certain events
- Partial or full paralysis
- Tingling in certain areas of the body
Understanding the type and extent of your injuries is important if you want to file a car accident lawsuit. If you file a lawsuit and begin to feel symptoms of an injury after your case was concluded, you may not be able to seek compensation. Additionally, if some of your injuries require surgery or other medical procedures, you may not learn the full extent of your injuries for months until after you are fully healed. These circumstances may impede your case and make it difficult to determine an appropriate amount of money to claim for your injuries.
How to Get Your Car Crash Claim Settled Faster in PA
Pinning down the exact date your car crash case will be resolved is next to impossible. However, there are various factors to help you speed up your case.
One important factor that will help expedite your claim is the amount of evidence gathered for the case. When you are in an accident with another motorist, the information you collect at the scene of the accident will help you build your claim. The following is a list of important information you should gather immediately after being in a car accident:
- The license information, license plate number, insurance policy info, registration info, and address of the other drivers
- A police report from the officers who respond to the scene of the accident
- Photographs of the damage all vehicles involved in the crash and of the scene of the accident
- Statements from any witnesses that are willing to stop and give one
- Documentation of your injuries and the injuries of anyone else involved in the accident
Having this information prepared will allow an attorney to begin building your case quickly. However, if you were unable to recover all of this information at the scene, an experienced Allentown car accident attorney can help you recover any crucial pieces of evidence required for your case – though this may take longer.
Work with Our Philadelphia Personal Injury Attorneys
If you or a family member was the victim of a serious car accident, you should contact an experienced Philadelphia personal injury attorney. Your car accident lawsuit may take several months or even more than a year to adjudicate, but the attorneys at The Reiff Law Firm will work tirelessly to help resolve your case smoothly. To schedule your free consultation, call us at (215) 709-6940, or reach us online.
