How Long Will It Take to Get a Settlement Check After A Personal Injury Accident in NJ?

So you agreed to a personal injury settlement, now how long do you have to wait for the payment to actually come?

If you or someone close to you were the victim of someone’s negligence or has suffered a traumatic personal injury, there is no doubt some anxiousness about when you can get your settlement check to get the compensation you deserve and move on with rebuilding your life. As you patiently await the finalization of your claim, your bills and related medical expenses may be causing additional stress and uncertainty, and you may be tempted to take the insurance company’s quick settlement offer. Having an experienced and knowledgeable attorney on your side who can protect your rights, negotiate with the insurance companies on your behalf, and help expedite your compensation for losses and your pain and suffering, is invaluable.

The personal injury lawyers at Cohen & Riechelson will collect and organize all the available evidence to support your claim, including medical records of your injuries and necessary treatment, an analysis of the circumstances that preceded the event, and any photographic or video documentation of the incident. By constructing a compelling argument on your behalf, we diligently work towards obtaining just compensation for you or your loved one. No matter what personal injury case has negatively impacted you and those you love, costing you time, money, and the intangible emotional and physical trauma of the accident, you can place your trust in our talented team of personal injury lawyers who can help.

Contact our Hamilton and Pennington, New Jersey offices at (609) 528-2596 to discuss your case with a member of our personal injury legal team at no cost. As always, we take the majority of cases on contingency. This means, if we don’t win, you don’t pay.

Four Steps You Can Expect Before You Receive Your Princeton, NJ Injury Settlement Check

Before any checks are issued:

1. The defendant’s insurance company will ask you to sign a release stating you will not seek future legal action against them about this particular personal or accident injury case. This means that the settlement you accept (and decide not to pursue a trial of some kind) needs to fully and fairly cover all of your damages, both present, and future.
2. Then there is the waiting period in which the insurance company processes the release form, which depending on the amount, can be fairly quick or a longer process intended to wear you down into accepting less than you deserve.
3. After the insurance company issues a check, your attorney will deposit the check in an escrow or trust account and pay off any existing liens (i.e., child support), creditors, medical provider, or related unpaid expenses.
4. Later, after the deduction of your legal fees (which may be a percentage of your settlement or an hourly fee plus expenses) and other costs such as for expert witnesses, investigators, depositions, court fees, or taxes, you can expect to receive a settlement check in the mail with a final legal fee statement and a copy of the final settlement agreement; which you signed after settlement negotiations.

Even if the liability seems straightforward, it can take up to six weeks or longer to receive an accident injury settlement check if the case is complex or the insurer tries to delay the process.

At Cohen & Riechelson (CR), our team of personal injury attorneys has both experienced trial attorneys and skilled negotiators who are committed to securing you the maximum compensation you need and deserve, while also remaining attuned to your immediate financial needs and concerns. We fight tirelessly throughout the legal process of your claim, while staying focused on the timeline so that we do everything we can to avoid unanticipated delays in you receiving payment from the negligent party or parties. We are prepared to negotiate a fair settlement on your behalf and, if necessary, fight for you in court.

Top 6 Reasons Why Your Mercer County, NJ Personal Injury Settlement Is Delayed

Circumstances differ depending on the unique elements of your case. Although it’s fairly common for delays to occur if you’re waiting to receive your personal injury settlement, there are multiple reasons why this could be taking longer than expected.

It could be something as simple as the other party not signing off on their release form. If an estate or multiple parties are being sued for damages, sorting out the particulars could take longer, as it could require additional preparation or more paperwork.

Here are six (6) common reasons why your personal injury settlement may take longer:

• legal or factual problems related to the case,
• dispute determining liability,
• severity of the injuries,
• injury victim is still being treated for accident-related injuries,
• the case involves a large sum of money, or
• the case is going to trial.

Sometimes choosing mediation, a less contentious and time-consuming option, might be more appropriate for finding a middle-ground resolution for your accident injury claim. In other situations, the insurer might offer you a pre-litigation settlement to avoid the risk of a large jury-awarded settlement. Either way, to properly prepare for the long haul, consult a knowledgeable personal injury attorney who can advise you on what to expect, help navigate delays, and help accurately determine how much you should be seeking in terms of medical expenses, lost income, and physical and emotional pain and suffering.

If you or someone you love has suffered an accident injury, or wrongful death and you suspect that another party is responsible, contact us online or at our offices in Trenton or Pennington at (609) 528-2596 today to schedule a cost-free initial consultation. We also provide representation for injured victims and families in Pennsylvania.

Contact Our Trenton, NJ Accident and Personal Injury Attorneys Today

Whether it’s a personal injury or workers’ compensation-related matter, Cohen & Riechelson is here for you. Our accomplished team of attorneys has a proven record of success in helping injured people and their families obtain fair and just compensation for their losses as soon as possible.

We understand the hardships you face – medical bills, wage loss, pain and suffering, insurance companies that say “no” – and will work with you personally to help you through the legal process. We provide knowledgeable guidance and strong advocacy for clients throughout Mercer, Burlington, Middlesex, and Somerset counties and across all of New Jersey and Pennsylvania. We abide by a contingency model, which essentially means that we work for you for free until you receive compensation.

There are strict time deadlines or statutes of limitations on filing claims, so it is in your best interest to consult with and retain an attorney immediately to file your claim in a timely manner, or you will lose any right to recovery.

Contact us online or through our Hamilton, NJ office at (609) 528-2596 today to speak with our legal team regarding your accident, injuries, and how we can help you and your family to recover fully and fairly compensation through a settlement or a trial verdict.