If you have been injured in a car accident, you probably have gone to multiple doctor’s appointments, missed time for work, and missed family activities. You just want to get back to your normal life, but you know that you will need money to do that.  You may be wondering how long it will take to get the insurance money you are owed.

The time it takes to receive a settlement will depend on how quickly you act and how quickly the insurance company processes your claim. There are a few things you should know about the claims process.

Filing a Claim

You should file a claim with the insurance company of the at-fault party as soon as you can after the accident. The insurance company will ask for certain documentation of the crash when you make your claim. You should collect this information before you contact them.

When you have an accident, you should always contact the police and wait for them to arrive. Be sure to take pictures of the damage to each vehicle and the accident scene if you can and get the names and phone numbers of any witnesses who may have seen the accident. You should also get the name and insurance information of the other driver involved in the accident.  Ask the officer who arrives at the scene for a copy of the accident report.

Go to the doctor even if you feel just fine because some injuries do not manifest right away. Be sure to save a copy of every medical bill that you receive. You should save all the receipts from any medicine you take whether it is prescription or non-prescription. Ask your employer for a  letter stating the number of hours that you have missed from work and the wages you have lost.

When you make your initial phone call, an automated system might reply to you. Once you leave your information, the company will have 15 days to acknowledge your claim and begin its

investigation. They will request that you send in your documentation. The faster you send in the documentation, the faster the claims process will go.

New York State does not specify an exact amount of time an insurance adjuster has to investigate claims. Once they wrap up their investigation they have 15 days to tell you if they accept or deny your claim. If they accept your claim, they will determine what you are owed and make you an offer. Before you take a settlement offer, you should talk to an attorney.

Why You Need an Attorney

Insurance companies often try to lowball clients when they make their first offer. A professional personal injury attorney will know how much you should be offered for your injuries. They will have years of experience negotiating with insurance adjusters and they can help to get you a fair deal.

It is hard to determine exactly how long a negotiation process will take. In some cases, the involved parties will be able to work something out right away, and in other cases, they may have to negotiate for a month or two before arriving at an amicable settlement amount.

If they are unable to come to an agreement, your attorney can advise you whether or not a lawsuit would be worthwhile.

It can take anywhere from a few months to a few years to settle a claim. If you document your case properly and call your insurance company promptly, it will help you to get compensation sooner rather than later. You can read more here if you want to learn how a lawyer can help you.