Your car accident settlement may be taking so long because of delays in medical treatment, liability disputes, or slow insurance negotiations.
Some claims resolve in a matter of weeks, while others drag on for months—or even years—due to complications. Truth be told, sometimes lawyers have hundreds of active cases, and your case isn’t getting the attention it deserves.
Factors like the severity of your injuries, the clarity of fault, and the willingness of insurers to negotiate all play a role in the pace of your settlement. If you’re feeling frustrated by the delay, you’re not alone.
Many injured people are left waiting in limbo without clear updates or timelines. Working with an experienced Washington, DC car accident lawyer can help speed up the process, protect your rights, and ensure nothing is overlooked during negotiations.
Why Settlements Stall
At Kitchel Injury Law, we represent clients who are doing everything right—getting treatment, documenting expenses, following advice, and still waiting far too long for their cases to move forward.
In our experience, most car accident settlements are delayed by:
- Ongoing medical treatment: If your injuries haven’t stabilized, it may be too early to calculate long-term costs, which makes finalizing a settlement risky.
- Disputed liability: If the insurance company argues over who caused the crash or suggests shared fault, they may hold off on offering a settlement while they investigate.
- Multiple parties involved: Accidents with more than two vehicles or a rideshare driver add layers of complexity that often delay resolution.
- Incomplete documentation: Missing records, unpaid medical bills, or insufficient wage-loss proof can significantly slow negotiations.
- Insurer strategy: Some insurance companies intentionally delay in hopes of pressuring injured people into accepting lower offers.
In cases involving serious or long-term injuries, we often wait for a client to reach maximum medical improvement (MMI) before entering final negotiations.
This means your condition has stabilized, and future treatment can be more accurately predicted, giving us a stronger position when calculating damages.
Our team works to identify these roadblocks early. Since cases can take a while, working with the right car accident lawyer is crucial to your claim. We maintain consistent communication, track all deadlines, and ensure insurers do not stall your case without consequences.
When to Expect a Fair Settlement Timeline
We often hear clients ask, “How long will it take for my case to settle?” While no two cases are alike, we typically see these general patterns:
- Minor injury claims: May resolve within 3 to 9 months if liability is clear and treatment is completed quickly
- Moderate to severe injuries: Can take 6 to 18 months, depending on the duration of treatment and the available insurance coverage – more insurance is good, but it usually slows things down
- Litigated cases: If the claim cannot be resolved out of court, preparing for trial may add 1 to 2 years, though most cases settle before reaching trial
We never rush our clients to settle before it’s safe to do so. If you accept too early, you risk forfeiting compensation for future care, lost income, or complications that have yet to appear.
What DC Law Says About Car Accident Claims
Under D.C. Code § 12–301, the statute of limitations for filing a personal injury claim, including car accidents, is three years from the date of the crash. While this gives you time to build your case properly, it does not mean you should wait to begin.
Early investigation and documentation can often shorten the path to settlement by strengthening your claim and addressing common insurer objections. At Kitchel Injury Law, we begin preserving evidence right away—from gathering medical records to requesting dash cam footage or police reports.
It’s also important to understand that missing the three-year deadline can result in losing your right to compensation entirely. Once the statute of limitations expires, the court will typically dismiss your case, and insurers will no longer negotiate. That’s why timing and proactive legal support are critical, even if you are still recovering or weighing your options.
How We Help Speed Things Up Without Rushing You
Some delays are unavoidable, especially when serious injuries require time to fully understand their impact. But many delays are unnecessary—and that’s where we step in.
At Kitchel Injury Law, we help move your case forward by:
- Staying in contact with medical providers to update your treatment timeline
- Communicating with insurers regularly so they can’t drag their feet
- Filing suit when necessary if the insurance company refuses to make a fair offer
- Explaining your options so you’re never pressured into a decision you don’t understand
We also help you document future needs, from physical therapy to potential surgeries, which can be critical to securing a full and fair settlement. Our team will keep you informed on how long it will take to settle your personal injury case.
Don’t Let Delay Jeopardize Your Recovery
It’s incredibly difficult to move on from a car crash when you don’t know why your car accident settlement is taking so long. Medical bills are piling up, paychecks are missing, and life does not wait for insurers to act. You deserve to know what’s going on, and you deserve representation that keeps your case on track.
If your car accident settlement is taking too long, reach out to Kitchel Injury Law today. We offer honest guidance, strategic support, and hands–on representation from day one. Our goal is simple: to get you the results you need without adding more stress to your life.