The length of a car accident case in Washington, D.C. can vary widely because each case involves a unique set of facts, injuries, insurance companies, and legal issues. Still, most car accident claims in Washington, D.C. go through a few general stages. Knowing what can influence the process and what the stages are helps you set realistic expectations about your case.
Immediately After the Accident (Days to Weeks)
Right after a car accident in DC, it’s crucial to focus on emergency medical care, ensuring all injuries are assessed and treated quickly.
You should also notify your insurance company and start to get evidence you’re able to, like photos of the accident scene, the police report, and receipts for any medical care or out-of-pocket expenses you have because of the accident.
Medical Treatment and Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI) (Weeks to Months)
After the accident, it’s important that you don’t rush to a settlement with the insurance company before your injuries are fully understood and treated. You want to make sure you’re at “maximum medical improvement” (MMI) before accepting a payout. This means you are as healed as doctors expect you’ll ever be, even if full recovery isn’t possible.
Reaching MMI is significant because it gives your lawyer, the insurance company, and anyone else involved in the case how severe your injuries are and what you’re actually entitled to. When injuries are minor, this stage is shorter. But when injuries are severe, it takes longer to see what the outcome is going to be in the long run.
Investigation and Building Your Case (Weeks to Months)
While you’re recovering and then once you reach MMI, your attorney gets to work gathering all the supporting documentation needed for your claim. This includes comprehensive medical records, clear accident scene photos, witness statements, and police reports.
Lawyers also look to obtain surveillance or dashcam footage of the incident or the moments leading up to it. At this time, your skilled injury lawyer in DC will also determine who they believe is liable, which could be one or more people or entities.
Settlement Negotiations (Months)
Once your car or truck accident lawyer has built a solid case, they can send their demand letter to the insurance company, which describes why you deserve compensation and how much you’re asking for. The hope is that they will agree and you can settle the case quickly, though this doesn’t always happen.
Negotiating with insurers can include several rounds of offers and counter-offers, and this stage could take anywhere from a month or two up to many months.
Going to Trial (1 to 2 Years or More)
If a settlement can’t be reached through negotiation, the next stage is filing a lawsuit and preparing for trial. This process usually takes much longer due to the preparation of legal documents, formal discovery (like exchanging evidence and taking depositions), court scheduling, mediation attempts, and sometimes pretrial motions.
A contested car accident case can take anywhere from one to two years, or even longer, depending on the complexity of the case and how busy the court’s docket is. Trials add unpredictability to both the timeline and the final outcome, so many cases are resolved through settlement well before the need for a courtroom verdict.
Every car accident case is slightly different, but this should give you a better idea of what to expect going forward. If you have any other questions, contact our team today to schedule a free and confidential case evaluation.