How long does it take for a car accident claim to settle?

So, how long does it take for a car accident claim to settle?

Well car accident claims take time, and it takes time to settle them, just as injuries take time to heal.

Some injuries if they’re severe enough can take up to two years before the full consequences of the injury is known, and obviously the case can’t go any faster until those things are known.

More importantly it really takes two sides to arrive at a settlement.

We might for example ask an insurance company for what we consider to be the fair value of your case but they might not be prepared to pay it at that first suggestion.

In those situations we often cannot settle the case, and the case must go forward until the satisfactory compromise is reached or a trial occurs.

The trial often occurs because that’s the only way to get a result in the case.

The good news is at Howie, Sacks & Henry over 95% of our cases for our clients settle before a trial is necessary.

Trials themselves usually occur about 4 to 5 years after the case is commenced.

Much of that time is taken exchanging pleadings, conducting examinations for discovery, collecting and reviewing all relevant documents that involve the case.

The rest of this time is unfortunately due to the fact that there is a backlog that’s ongoing in all of the courts in Ontario.

This backlog itself can usually take up to 1 to 2 years all by itself, as part of this total 4 to 5 year delay.

Rest assured at Howie, Sacks & Henry we move our cases forward as quickly as possible but without compromising our work to ensure that you get a fair result.

If you have any questions about this feel free to give me a call.

I’d be happy to speak to you.