What do you do after a car accident and how long does it take to retrieve damages? Read on to find out…
When you buy a new car, it comes with all the mod cons. This can mean safety features, new technology, and the best in computerized gadgets. Regardless of how new the car or how many safety features it has, you are still at risk of becoming involved in an accident. In fact, sources say that traffic fatalities throughout Atlanta have risen as much as 7.3% throughout the pandemic when roads were quieter.
When you have had a car accident, there are a number of steps you must take to ensure that you get the compensation you deserve. Below, we have discussed what you need to do during the settlement process and how long it should take.
What’s the Car Accident Settlement Process?
When you file for compensation after a car accident in Georgia, you should make sure that you are less than 50% to blame. If not, you might not have a claim. The process of filing a claim starts from the moment the accident happens. In the following days you should be gathering evidence, speaking with the police, visiting doctors, and taking photos of the scene. Witness statements and projected recovery timetables should all be included.
When you are in a car accident, you should hire a local law firm straight away. They will guide you through what you need to do to get the information together, in order to complete your claim.
The settlement process begins after the judge has made a ruling. To make a ruling, he needs all of the information on your case, as well as all of the opposing council’s data. When they have both, they will rule either in your favor or against you. Once you have this result, you are able to move on to the next stage: settlement.
What Happens During Settlement Hearings?
Settlement hearings feature you and the other party, as well as your legal representatives. They will try to negotiate a settlement sum that is enough to appease you and make you drop the lawsuit, but that doesn’t see them left bankrupt, either.
The settlement hearing will take place in a law office, and you will usually be invited to attend. The opposition will make an offer and you can accept or refuse. Lore has it that you should not accept the first offer, since this is them testing the water to see how low an offer they can give you. When you inevitably refuse, the counteroffer should be higher.
You do not need to accept any of their offers. If you and your lawyer think that you have a good case, you can take them all the way to court to get the compensation figure you deserve. Most firms will avoid court because it’s costly and increase your offer.
What about the Settlement Process Timeline?
So how long does all this take? It can run for months; it can take weeks. After your settlement sum has been decided, the money should be within your grasp for 28 days. This is not always the case, and you should be aware that it may change. Your personal injury attorney should be able to keep you in the loop.