How Long Will It Take a Georgia Car Accident Lawyer to Settle A Lawsuit?

One of the first questions car accident victims ask their Georgia car accident lawyer is how much their case is worth. The second question they ask is how long it’ll take to get their money. There’s nothing wrong with that. The whole reason you hired a lawyer was so that you could get compensation for your injuries. So, it’s only natural that you’d want to know what you can expect.

As normal as it is to want to know these things, you have to be realistic. It’s hard for any Georgia car accident lawyer to give you these answers a half-hour after meeting you. They need time to review your case and see what the other side has to say before they do this. The last thing they want to do is give you false hope. They could tell you that your case is worth $300,000 only to find out you missed the statute of limitations filing deadline. You’re much better off asking these questions a few weeks or even months after you first meet with your attorney.

Most Car Accident Cases Do Settle

Despite what you see on television, very few car accident cases ever make it to trial. Most car accident victims never see the inside of a courtroom. That’s a good thing. It means that most cases settle out of court. In fact, according to the American Bar Association, more than 95% of all personal injury cases settle long before trial. Trials are expensive and time-consuming. It can take months or even years to resolve your case. There will be a lot of back and forth between the Georgia car accident lawyers. There’s also going to be court-ordered mediation. The judge is going to do whatever they can to get your case settled. They don’t want to clog up their docket with cases that should’ve been worked out.

If I’m Willing to Take Less, Will it Settle Faster?

Some car accident victims think that they’ll get their money faster if they’re willing to take less. The truth is that, if you offered the insurance a ridiculously low settlement, they would probably take it. If you offer less than they think they’d have to pay through mediation, they’d be crazy not to accept it. Your Georgia car accident lawyer is going to encourage you to hold out for a fair amount. While they understand that you want money, they also know what your case is worth.

You have to remember two other things. Your attorney is only paid a percentage of your settlement. If you settle too low, they may not even get enough to cover their out-of-pocket costs. In addition, if your primary health insurance covered your medical care, they expect to be reimbursed. If they believe they could get more money if your case went to trial, they can step in and demand that the settlement be rejected.

How Much of My Settlement Does my Georgia Car Accident Lawyer Take?

Georgia car accident lawyers aren’t paid anything upfront. They cover your fees and costs. They arrange for the experts and court reporters. They do all of this in the hopes that you’ll win or settle your case. That’s because your attorney is paid a percentage of your settlement. They don’t bill you by the hour like a divorce lawyer or criminal attorney. Normally, an injury lawyer takes a third of the proceeds if the case settles without the need for a trial. If, however, your case does go to court, that percentage would go up to 40%.

What Happens if the Insurance Company Won’t Settle?

There are times when the defendant or insurance company refuses to settle. They may think they have a good chance of winning if the case goes to court. Or they think they can get a lower settlement if they hold out. If this happens, your Georgia car accident lawyer is going to file a lawsuit. This may be the only way to get you the compensation you deserve.

Call and Talk to an Experienced Georgia Car Accident Lawyer

If you or your kids are injured in a car wreck, you’ll probably need help dealing with the insurance company. That’s why it’s a good idea to call and talk to an experienced Georgia car accident lawyer. Sit down with someone who’s handled cases like yours before. The initial consultation is free, so you don’t have anything to lose.