If you’re injured in a car accident, workplace accident, or any other type of accident resulting from someone else’s negligence in Massachusetts, you may be eligible to receive compensation. By filing a claim with an insurance company and reaching a settlement, you can secure compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and other such damages/losses.
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Various factors, such as the nature of your accident, who was at fault, and the severity of your injuries can impact precisely how much compensation you may be eligible to receive.
However, arriving at a settlement with the insurance company doesn’t necessarily mean automatically collecting payment.
It’s natural to wonder when you will receive compensation for your injuries. A personal injury settlement check is often meant to help cover the costs of expenses you have incurred. The longer you have to wait to receive the agreed upon compensation, the more stress you might endure as you manage your financial difficulties.
It’s important to understand that the process of settling a personal injury case can be lengthy and unpredictable, and the timeline for receiving your settlement check can vary depending on numerous factors.
This overview will explore how long it may take to receive a personal injury settlement check in Massachusetts. That said, every case is unique. To truly understand how long you might have to wait to receive a check for a personal injury settlement, it’s wise to hire a qualified lawyer and discuss the topic with them in greater detail. Be aware, research also tends to confirm that hiring a lawyer can also improve your chances of reaching an appropriate settlement with an insurance company in the first place.
Factors that may impact how long you have to wait to receive a personal injury settlement check in Massachusetts include:
Resolution of the Case
The first factor that determines how long it takes to receive a personal injury settlement check is the resolution of the case. A settlement can be reached at any point during the legal process, but it can take several months or even years to reach a settlement or for a case to go to trial. The length of time it takes to resolve a case depends on the complexity of the case and the severity of the injuries.
Some claimants are eager to receive payment as soon as possible. Thus, they may jump at the chance to settle as soon as the insurance company makes an offer. However, this isn’t wise. The initial offer an insurance company makes will likely not represent a full, fair amount of compensation. This is another reason why it’s smart to seek representation from an attorney. A lawyer can evaluate an offer and advise you on whether you should accept it or not.
It’s important to understand that the process of settling a personal injury case can be lengthy and unpredictable, and the timeline for receiving your settlement check can vary depending on numerous factors.
Negotiations with Insurance Companies
Another factor that can impact the timeline for receiving a settlement check is the negotiation process with insurance companies. If you decide not to accept an insurance company’s first offer, or if an insurance company doesn’t even make an initial offer, you may need to enter into negotiations. The actual negotiations with an insurer is something your Massachusetts personal injury lawyer can handle on your behalf.
Unfortunately, some insurance companies may delay the negotiation process. An insurer’s strategy may be to draw out the process as long as possible in the hopes that your patience will wear thin and you’ll agree to accept a low offer.
There are various ways an insurer might delay negotiations. For example, they may take weeks or months to review medical records and other evidence before making a settlement offer. If an insurer is dragging out the process to an unreasonable degree, a lawyer could potentially advance the process more efficiently, while protecting your rights by proceeding with litigation.
Court Approval
In some cases, a court must approve the settlement before the funds can be released. This process can take several weeks or even months, depending on the court’s backlog and numerous other factors.
That said, none of this is meant to suggest you’ll have to wait an unreasonable length of time to receive the compensation you deserve after you arrive at a settlement agreement with an insurance company. It’s simply meant to give you a general sense of how certain factors can influence the timeline.
Remember, it’s always helpful to speak with an attorney in these circumstances. At Swartz & Swartz, P.C, a Massachusetts personal injury lawyer is on hand to offer the representation you deserve and to answer questions about the potential for settlement of your claim, versus the challenges of litigation and trial. For more information about a personal injury claim you’re thinking about filing, contact us online or call us at (617) 742-1900.
Need Help?
If you or someone you know, needs help from a lawyer, contact the law offices of Swartz & Swartz, use our live chat, or send us a message using the form below and we’ll get in touch to assess your case and how we can help.
About the Author: James Swartz
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