How long will this process take? This is probably the most asked question we get from our clients. The answer…it depends. Insurance claims can take anywhere from a few weeks to several years to resolve, depending on a number of factors.
How significant are your injuries?
Typically, we do not want to settle an insurance claim before our client is either fully healed from their injuries or comfortable with their future medical outlook. Why? Because insurance claims are valued in part based on the types of injuries incurred and the amount of time it takes to recover from those injuries. Settling a case prematurely can sometimes limit the true value of an insurance claim.
Are there limits on the amount of insurance coverage available?
In Louisiana, the state requires drivers to have minimum car liability limits of 15/30/25. This means liability limits of $15,000 per person up to $30,000 per accident and $25,000 for property damage. A majority of Louisiana drivers have minimum limits. Unfortunately, this means that if you are seriously injured in a car accident, the person who caused the accident may very well have only $15,000 in insurance coverage available to cover your medical bills and general damages, like pain and suffering, lost wages, etc. That’s not much considering that an ambulance ride from Hwy 190 to St. Tammany Parish Hospital alone can cost $3,000 and a hospital bill can cost another $2,000 to $8,000.
Why does this impact how long an insurance claim takes? If there is limited insurance available, the value of a major personal injury claim will quickly reach those limits. At Flattmann Law, we keep insurance companies informed about our clients’ injuries and treatment. As a result, when our clients’ claims reach policy limits, insurance adjusters often call us in an attempt to resolve those claims as quickly as possible.
In major injury cases, while it is good news if the at-fault party has high limits of liability coverage, it also means that the claim may take longer to resolve. In those cases, it is important for our clients to get to a point of maximum medical improvement before settling their case, and doing so can take time.
Are there questions as to who is responsible for the wreck?
Insurance companies are experts at trying to pass the blame to the injured victim of an accident. If the insurance company is refusing to accept responsibility (liability) for a wreck, we may have to take extra measures to prove our case. This can be anything from conducting interviews of witnesses to hiring crash reconstruction experts. Often, if an insurance company is refusing to accept liability, it requires the filing of a lawsuit and lawsuits can take a long time to finalize.
Have You Been In An Accident And Have Questions About How Long It Will Take Your Claim To Resolve?
If you have been in an accident and have questions about how long it will take to resolve your car wreck claim contact us online or call our Covington office directly at 985.590.6182 to schedule your free consultation today. Flattmann Law serves clients on the Northshore, including Covington, Mandeville, Abita Springs, Bogalusa, Franklinton, Folsom, Hammond, Lacombe, Pearl River, and Slidell.
