{"id":8733,"date":"2021-02-05T16:49:20","date_gmt":"2021-02-05T21:49:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.myphillylawyer.com\/?page_id=8733"},"modified":"2024-04-26T00:05:55","modified_gmt":"2024-04-26T05:05:55","slug":"how-long-does-it-take-to-settle-a-car-accident-lawsuit","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.myphillylawyer.com\/yue\/practice-areas\/vehicle-accidents\/faqs\/how-long-does-it-take-to-settle-a-car-accident-lawsuit\/","title":{"rendered":"How long does it take to settle a car accident lawsuit?"},"content":{"rendered":"<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How long does it take to settle a car accident lawsuit?<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">An average of 120,000 to 130,000 vehicle crashes occur in Pennsylvania every year. Approximately 80,000 injuries occur every year in Pennsylvania car accidents. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) defines a serious injury as one that is not fatal and results in one or more of the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Crush injuries,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Skull injuries<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Chest injuries<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Abdominal injuries<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Severe lacerations<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Significant burns<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Paralysis<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The PennDOT lists minor injuries as those which are not fatal or serious, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Cuts<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Bruises<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Abrasions<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Minor lacerations<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whether the victim suffers minor or serious injuries, the physical, emotional and financial effects may result in medical bills and other monetary obligations. The victim\u2019s daily activities and well-being may be altered, and they may want to file a lawsuit to receive compensation for their injuries and damages from the at-fault driver(s). The time it takes to settle a car accident lawsuit may be as short a few weeks or can last for years. The time frame for a lawsuit differs from case to case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After a car accident, police may investigate the accident if it involves serious bodily injury or death. For car accidents without serious bodily injury or death, the driver must give a written report to the PennDOT within five days of the accident. The victim of the auto accident may be required to report the accident to their own insurance company under the terms of their insurance policy. They may also decide to sue the at-fault driver for any injuries and property damage sustained in the accident.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After filing a complaint in the appropriate court, the at-fault driver must respond to the lawsuit. If they fail to respond to the complaint within 20 days, then the person who filed the lawsuit wins by default. In this scenario, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.myphillylawyer.com\/yue\/practice-areas\/vehicle-accidents\/\">car accident lawsuit<\/a> can be concluded within a few weeks of filing the lawsuit. Before the lawsuit goes to trial, one party may request a pretrial conference, during which, the judge will discuss settlement. However, the conclusion of a car accident lawsuit may take months or years if the case goes to trial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>Other Car Accident FAQs:<\/h3>\n<ul class=\"list-pages-shortcode sibling-pages\"><li class=\"page_item page-item-8822\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.myphillylawyer.com\/yue\/practice-areas\/vehicle-accidents\/faqs\/can-i-recover-compensation-even-if-i-am-partially-at-fault-for-the-car-crash\/\">Can I recover compensation even if I am partially at fault for the car crash?<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"page_item page-item-8931\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.myphillylawyer.com\/yue\/practice-areas\/vehicle-accidents\/faqs\/how-common-is-back-pain-from-car-accidents\/\">How common is back pain from car accidents?<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"page_item page-item-9010\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.myphillylawyer.com\/yue\/practice-areas\/vehicle-accidents\/faqs\/how-long-after-a-car-accident-can-you-experience-pain\/\">How long after a car accident can you experience pain?<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"page_item page-item-8884\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.myphillylawyer.com\/yue\/practice-areas\/vehicle-accidents\/faqs\/how-long-after-a-car-accident-can-you-sue-in-pennsylvania\/\">How long after a car accident can you sue in Pennsylvania?<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"page_item page-item-8538\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.myphillylawyer.com\/yue\/practice-areas\/vehicle-accidents\/faqs\/how-long-do-i-have-to-file-a-car-accident-suit\/\">How long do I have to file a car accident suit?<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"page_item page-item-8528\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.myphillylawyer.com\/yue\/practice-areas\/vehicle-accidents\/faqs\/how-long-do-i-have-to-file-a-claim-after-a-car-accident\/\">How long do I have to file a claim after a car accident?<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"page_item page-item-8888\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.myphillylawyer.com\/yue\/practice-areas\/vehicle-accidents\/faqs\/how-long-does-an-insurance-company-have-to-settle-a-claim-in-pennsylvania\/\">How long does an insurance company have to settle a claim in Pennsylvania?<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"page_item page-item-8733\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.myphillylawyer.com\/yue\/practice-areas\/vehicle-accidents\/faqs\/how-long-does-it-take-to-settle-a-car-accident-lawsuit\/\">How long does it take to settle a car accident lawsuit?<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"page_item page-item-8890\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.myphillylawyer.com\/yue\/practice-areas\/vehicle-accidents\/faqs\/how-much-time-will-it-take-for-me-to-recover-damages-in-my-pennsylvania-car-accident-case\/\">How much time will it take for me to recover damages in my Pennsylvania car accident case?<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"page_item page-item-8832\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.myphillylawyer.com\/yue\/practice-areas\/vehicle-accidents\/faqs\/how-should-i-prepare-for-my-first-meeting-with-my-pennsylvania-car-accident-attorney\/\">How should I prepare for my first meeting with my Pennsylvania car accident attorney?<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"page_item page-item-8993\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.myphillylawyer.com\/yue\/practice-areas\/vehicle-accidents\/faqs\/i-got-into-a-car-accident-and-hit-my-head-what-should-i-do\/\">I got into a car accident and hit my head; what should I do?<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"page_item page-item-8360\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.myphillylawyer.com\/yue\/practice-areas\/vehicle-accidents\/faqs\/i-was-in-a-car-accident-my-injuries-are-minor-should-i-see-a-doctor\/\">I was in a car accident; my injuries are minor. Should I see a doctor?<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"page_item page-item-8534\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.myphillylawyer.com\/yue\/practice-areas\/vehicle-accidents\/faqs\/i-was-involved-in-a-car-accident-what-should-i-do-first\/\">I was involved in a car accident, what should I do first?<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"page_item page-item-8280\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.myphillylawyer.com\/yue\/practice-areas\/vehicle-accidents\/faqs\/i-was-involved-in-a-hit-and-run-car-accident-can-i-still-get-compensation\/\">I was involved in a hit-and-run car accident; can I still get compensation?<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"page_item page-item-8824\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.myphillylawyer.com\/yue\/practice-areas\/vehicle-accidents\/faqs\/if-i-have-been-in-a-car-accident-do-i-need-a-lawyer\/\">If I have been in a car accident, do I need a lawyer?<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"page_item page-item-8886\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.myphillylawyer.com\/yue\/practice-areas\/vehicle-accidents\/faqs\/is-pennsylvania-a-no-fault-accident-state\/\">Is Pennsylvania a no-fault accident state?<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"page_item page-item-8820\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.myphillylawyer.com\/yue\/practice-areas\/vehicle-accidents\/faqs\/is-there-a-time-limit-on-my-car-accident-claim-in-pennsylvania\/\">Is there a time limit on my car accident claim in Pennsylvania?<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"page_item page-item-8826\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.myphillylawyer.com\/yue\/practice-areas\/vehicle-accidents\/faqs\/should-i-accept-a-settlement-from-an-insurance-company-regarding-my-car-accident\/\">Should I accept a settlement from an insurance company regarding my car accident?<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"page_item page-item-8531\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.myphillylawyer.com\/yue\/practice-areas\/vehicle-accidents\/faqs\/should-i-accept-an-insurance-settlement-right-away\/\">Should I accept an insurance settlement right away?<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"page_item page-item-8408\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.myphillylawyer.com\/yue\/practice-areas\/vehicle-accidents\/faqs\/the-accident-was-partially-my-fault-can-i-still-file-a-claim-for-compensation\/\">The accident was partially my fault, can I still file a claim for compensation?<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"page_item page-item-8813\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.myphillylawyer.com\/yue\/practice-areas\/vehicle-accidents\/faqs\/what-am-i-entitled-to-after-a-car-accident\/\">What am I entitled to after a car accident?<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"page_item page-item-9441\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.myphillylawyer.com\/yue\/practice-areas\/vehicle-accidents\/faqs\/what-happens-if-someone-gets-in-an-accident-driving-your-car\/\">What happens if someone gets in an accident driving your car?<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"page_item page-item-8702\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.myphillylawyer.com\/yue\/practice-areas\/vehicle-accidents\/faqs\/what-should-i-do-after-an-accident\/\">What should I do after an accident?<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"page_item page-item-8998\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.myphillylawyer.com\/yue\/practice-areas\/vehicle-accidents\/faqs\/what-to-do-about-head-and-neck-pain-from-a-car-accident\/\">What to do about head and neck pain from a car accident?<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"page_item page-item-9034\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.myphillylawyer.com\/yue\/practice-areas\/vehicle-accidents\/faqs\/what-to-do-if-you-bump-your-head-in-a-car-accident\/\">What to do if you bump your head in a car accident?<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"page_item page-item-8536\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.myphillylawyer.com\/yue\/practice-areas\/vehicle-accidents\/faqs\/what-types-of-compensation-can-i-expect-to-receive-after-a-car-accident\/\">What types of compensation can I expect to receive after a car accident?<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"page_item page-item-8828\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.myphillylawyer.com\/yue\/practice-areas\/vehicle-accidents\/faqs\/what-types-of-things-can-i-be-compensated-for-after-my-car-accident\/\">What types of things can I be compensated for after my car accident?<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"page_item page-item-8357\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.myphillylawyer.com\/yue\/practice-areas\/vehicle-accidents\/faqs\/why-do-i-need-a-car-accident-attorney\/\">Why do I need a car accident attorney?<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>How long does it take to settle a car accident lawsuit? An average of 120,000 to 130,000 vehicle crashes occur in Pennsylvania every year. Approximately 80,000 injuries occur every year in Pennsylvania car accidents. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) defines a serious injury as one that is not fatal and results in one or&hellip;<\/p>","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":10807,"parent":8282,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-8733","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.myphillylawyer.com\/yue\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8733","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.myphillylawyer.com\/yue\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.myphillylawyer.com\/yue\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.myphillylawyer.com\/yue\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.myphillylawyer.com\/yue\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8733"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.myphillylawyer.com\/yue\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8733\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11340,"href":"https:\/\/www.myphillylawyer.com\/yue\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8733\/revisions\/11340"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.myphillylawyer.com\/yue\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8282"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.myphillylawyer.com\/yue\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10807"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.myphillylawyer.com\/yue\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8733"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}