You and your family must be compensated fairly after you, or someone you love has been hurt in a car wreck caused by a reckless or negligent driver. How fast you'll be able to resolve the case will depend on several factors, including those discussed below.

1. The Number of Parties in Involved

The more individuals or entities involved in a car wreck case, the longer it will take to resolve. When two people are in a collision, you'll generally only involve two insurance companies. There are generally fewer witnesses and less evidence to analyze in a two-car wreck. Sometimes though, multiple parties are involved in car collisions simultaneously. When several drivers are caught up in multi-party car wrecks, it can take a long time for all parties to communicate and comb through evidence.  

2. The Contributing Factors to the Wreck

The time it takes to resolve your car wreck case will also be impacted by the contributing factors to the collision. For example, if a drunk driver hits you, liability may obviously be on the drunk driver but what about the establishments that served them? What if you are hit by someone who ran a red light because their brakes were defective, liability may be with the vehicle manufacturer or a mechanic who performed maintenance on the brakes. These details can take quite some time to figure out for several reasons, not the least of which will be the resistance of others to accept blame.

3. The Cooperation of the Other Parties

Even when the fault of a car wreck seems obvious, the insurance company for the responsible driver(s) will fight tooth and nail to minimize liability and the amount they have to pay out as fair compensation for your injuries and other harms. These insurance company tactics can be particularly frustrating for those who've been injured in the car wreck or who have lost loved ones in the collision. You must stay calm and let your attorney do the legwork in these situations. An experienced car wreck lawyer will know how to communicate with the other side and move forward with parties who seem unwilling to cooperate.

4. Severity of the Car Wreck Injuries

Unfortunately, another cause of case delay after you or a loved one has been injured, or worse, in a car wreck, can be attributed to the severity of the injuries. The worse the injuries are, the more compensation you are likely entitled to. Compensation should cover your medical expenses and loss of income, plus other damages. Car wreck victims may also have ongoing medical expenses ranging from physical therapy to life support.  

Determining how much a car crash victim, or their surviving family, is entitled to recover after a crash requires sophisticated calculations. The higher the amount deemed necessary for fair, just, and reasonable compensation, the more push back you and your attorney will get from the insurance company representing the at-fault driver(s). This back and forth is normal, but it can be frustrating for those recovering from the trauma of a car wreck.

5. Records Request Issues

Sometimes a car wreck case can get held up by parties not involved in the car collision itself. In order for you or your loved one to prove the just compensation amount, your attorney will need to demonstrate the value of your case through medical records, employment records, and other records.

Records can be difficult to access, especially if the entity you're requesting the records from is disorganized or has lost track of the records you need. There could also be many other individuals in the queue, requesting records ahead of you when healthcare facilities and other employers are experiencing difficulty in keeping their offices staffed. The result is you may have to wait longer than normal for the return of your records. Ultimately, patience will yield the evidence you need to be fairly compensated.

6. How Experienced Your Attorney Is

You may be surprised to learn that it might be a bad sign if your case wraps up too quickly. While you want a quick and fair resolution to your case after being injured in a Connecticut car wreck, the other party's insurance will want you to settle quickly. An inexperienced attorney may be too willing to settle quickly, ultimately depriving you of proper compensation. On the flip side, an inexperienced lawyer may want to drag the case out and insist you go to trial when the settlement offer made is actually fair.

When you hire an experienced Connecticut car wreck attorney, you'll work with a lawyer who knows when to settle and when to take a case to trial. Don't be afraid to ask your attorney how experienced they are, and insist they communicate the process with you.

7. Lawsuits and the Trial Process

Not all cases require a lawsuit. In my experience, over 50% of all car wreck cases resolve with a settlement that do not require filing a lawsuit.

However, when the insurance company for the at-fault driver(s) denies 100% responsibility and/or minimizes the injuries and fair compensation a lawsuit is necessary in order to protect your rights.

Having said that, 9 out of 10 lawsuits end up settling at some point in the lawsuit process and prior to trial.  

However, the lawsuit process and getting to the trial is lengthy and takes time, but sometimes it is the only way to get what you deserve after you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a car wreck. Litigating a car wreck case can take, on average, 18 months from the time the lawsuit is filed, and in some cases, years for your case to be heard. Court dockets are backlogged, and the wait requires patience.

Hire an Experienced and Dedicated Connecticut Car Wreck Attorney

I know it can be frustrating when your car wreck case takes longer than you want it to. However, settling too soon may mean you sacrifice a full and fair settlement.

One issue that should never be the reason your car crash case is delayed is your own attorney's lack of motivation or experience. Don't settle for a lawyer who isn't dedicated to your case. I give my clients the experienced attention they deserve, and I won't rest until your case is resolved. If you've been seriously hurt in a car wreck in Connecticut, call me, attorney Jim Miron today. You can call my office at 203.339.5991 today or contact me online for a free case evaluation.

Don't delay. Make the call. Time is limited and important steps needed to be taken to protect your rights.