There is no way to know ahead of time how long it will take to settle your Miami car accident lawsuit. Many factors go into determining your case’s length, only some of which are within your control.
One of our Miami car accident lawyers can fight by your side for the damages you deserve. This can be especially helpful if your case ends up taking longer than expected or if you are still being treated for your injuries.
What You Can Do To Get A Car Accident Settlement Sooner
There is no guarantee that the following steps will shorten your case, but they can prevent you from making avoidable mistakes that could complicate the situation. For example:
You Can Start Your Lawsuit As Soon As Possible
Florida law gives most car accident victims just two years to file. However, it is better not to wait until the last minute: the closer to the deadline you are, the easier it might be for the insurer to argue that you have missed it.
In addition, it takes time to build up a case file, so the sooner you speak to a lawyer about your situation, the sooner we can start collecting evidence—and the less of a head start the insurance company will get when building their own case.
You Can Collect Car Accident Evidence
First, see a doctor and get medical care. This will both generate a medical record that can help prove your case and, more importantly, ensure your injuries and symptoms do not get worse.
If you are well enough to do so, take photos of the accident scene and exchange insurance information with the other party right after the accident. You should also save all relevant paperwork (e.g., doctor’s bills) and keep a record of all communications with involved parties.
All of these steps create evidence that can strengthen your case. The stronger your case file, the less time it might take to settle your Miami car accident lawsuit.
You Can Limit What You Say About The Car Accident
You will need to tell your doctor how you were injured, and you will also need to provide short, honest answers when the responding police officer questions you. Other than that, do not speak to anyone but your lawyer about what happened.
The insurance company will likely try to interview you alone, get a recorded statement, monitor your social media accounts, and review any public statements you make about the crash. If they find something that seems to contradict your official account, they will use it against you, which can cause confusion, delay your claim, and even reduce the compensation you ultimately receive.
You Can Hire A Miami Attorney
We are already familiar with the procedures for filing and managing a lawsuit. That means we can draft and send pre-litigation demand letters, communicate with the insurance companies, negotiate for a fair settlement, and even take your case to trial—all while avoiding common pitfalls or errors that could unnecessarily delay your case.
Other Factors That Could Lengthen Or Shorten Your Miami Car Accident Lawsuit
Many factors that influence how long it takes to settle a Miami car accident lawsuit are up to the insurance company or other parties, not the accident victim. These include:
- Delays and denials: Insurers may take a long time—sometimes deliberately—to consider or render decisions in a case.
- The complexity of your case: When a crash involves multiple liable parties or conflicting evidence, it may take longer for all sides to build their cases and decide on a legal strategy.
- The court’s schedule: Miami-Dade County courthouses are often very busy, and it may take a while for the judge, the plaintiff, and the defendant to all be ready to stand trial.
There is little you can do to influence these factors. The best way to handle them is to allow your personal injury attorney to stay in contact with the insurer on your behalf and handle all trial preparations and evidence collection.
With a committed legal representative on your side, you would not have to worry about completing legal tasks on your own or whether you are doing those tasks correctly.
How Settling Versus Going To Court Affects Your Lawsuit’s Timeline
One of the biggest factors that will determine how long it takes to settle your case is whether you recover a pretrial settlement or a jury award.
Most cases end in a settlement precisely because it is faster and easier for everyone. Pursuing a settlement generally involves:
- Sending a demand letter to the at-fault party’s insurer
- Evaluating the insurer’s settlement offers (should they make any) or assessing their reasons for denying your claim
- Negotiating with the insurance company for an appropriate settlement
- Drafting a settlement agreement that explains how much you will be paid and when
In cases where going to trial is unavoidable, you can expect your case to take much longer to resolve. Trials are very involved processes that require your personal injury lawyer to:
- Schedule court dates
- Select jury members who can consider your case fairly
- Prepare and deliver oral arguments
- Prepare and question witnesses on the stand
- Submit trial exhibits into evidence
The more complex your case is, the longer it may take to present it in court, and the more time the jury might need to consider all of the evidence and reach a verdict.
Let Us Handle Your Miami Car Accident Lawsuit
You worry about getting better. We take care of everything else. At Anidjar & Levine, we fight by our clients’ side no matter how long it takes to settle their Miami car accident lawsuit. You pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you. Call today for a free consultation and pay us nothing until you win.
We Can Help.
