Massachusetts Personal Injury Library
How Long Does It Take To Settle a Massachusetts Car Accident Claim?
Every car accident is distinct due to a variety of contributing factors such as the circumstances surrounding the collision, the number of occupants in the vehicles, who was at fault, and the severity of your injuries.
Because each accident is different, the claim that you file with an insurance company will also be different from the claim that was filed before or after your claim.
In this respect, it's impossible to know how long a Massachusetts car accident claim will take to reach a settlement and be resolved.
Factors in Settling Your Car Accident Claim
The following factors are just some issues that will come into play when determining how long it will take to settle your claim:
- The amount of time you wait to file your claim after the car accident
- The details of your claim
- The extent of your injuries
- The number of individuals involved in the accident – occupants, pedestrians, motorcyclists, and so on
- If you decide to handle the claim on your own or seek the assistance of a personal injury attorney
- If the other individual involved tries to reach a settlement instead of going to court
- If your case does go to court, the availability of the court to schedule a hearing and trial dates
- Once you have a scheduled court date, how long the trial will actually take
Common Myths Regarding the Injury Claims Process
The 5 common myths that many people believe about the personal injury claims process are outlined here:
- If you are reasonable with the insurance company and write them a letter of what happened to you in the car accident, you'll get a fair settlement offer
- In the event of a car accident and the insurance company calls you up to request a recorded statement, you are obligated to comply or else they won't settle your claim
- The insurance company that insures the party who struck you is supposed to cover all of your medical expenses related to the accident
- The party who isn't at fault in the car accident assumes that there has to be some other insurance company that will cover your medical costs, lost wages from missing work, and compensation for your injuries
- The belief that juries in Massachusetts are generous
Seeking Compensation from a Government Entity
In the event that you were injured in a car accident caused by a government worker or due to negligence of a governmental agency you could have grounds to pursue compensation for your injuries and for all of your accident-related costs.
While it may be intimidating to pursue a claim against the government or one of its agencies, it is possible if you contact an attorney who specializes in personal injury claims against a government agency.
The requirements for filing a claim against the government vary from a claim filed against a private citizen.
Prior to even filing your claim against the government, you need to file a Notice of Claim within 2 months of the accident with the specific agency you want to file the claim against. Each agency will have their own set of rules and regulations in filing and an experienced attorney will be able to assist you in this complicated process.
After the notice is filed, the agency will either accept or reject your claim. If your claim is accepted, discussions will then take place regarding settlement or an award for the amount of compensation that you requested in your claim. If the government denies your claim, your next option is to pursue your claim in civil court.
When to Contact a Boston Car Accidents Lawyer
If you or someone you know has been seriously injured in a car accident in Massachusetts, BEFORE you sign any forms, talk to the insurance company or hire a lawyer, contact a Boston accident injury lawyer with Kiley Law Group to find out about your legal options.
Tom Kiley, also known as The Million Dollar Man, has over 30 years of experience and a successful track record of obtaining seven figure wins for clients in auto accident cases, medical malpractice, child birth injuries, brain injuries, and other personal injury cases.
Call 1-888-208-1695 to receive your FREE legal consultation today. And while the call is free, the information may be priceless.
