Personal Injury | April 30, 2025 by JOSHUA D. ANDERSON

How Long Does It Take to Settle a Car Accident Claim in Washington State?

After a car crash, you want to settle your insurance claim as soon as you can. While it’s possible to settle quickly, most cases take time to resolve, and with good reason. It helps everyone involved gather the evidence that supports your claims to ensure you receive fair compensation for your property and personal injury case.

Settling a Car Accident Insurance Claim vs. a Car Accident Lawsuit

To be clear, there’s a difference between settling a car accident insurance claim and a car accident lawsuit.

Settling an insurance claim means you’ve come to an agreement with the insurance company without involving the legal system, i.e., you didn’t file a lawsuit.

If the insurance company is unwilling to offer a fair and reasonable amount for settlement your attorney should discuss the possibility of pursuing your claim through litigation, while discussing the potential risks versus benefits.

Why It Can Take Longer to Settle Your Car Accident Claim

Several factors can impact how long it takes to settle your car accident case. Some factors are within your control, like returning the requested paperwork, and some are out of your control, like how complex the accident is. 

Here’s what can impact how long it might take to settle your car accident case.

Accident Details

While there may be an official investigation at the time of the auto accident and police reports that detail the findings, the specifics of your accident may need additional investigation. For example, your car accident lawyer may hire an accident reconstruction specialist to explain the cause of the accident. Or they may gather statements from expert witnesses who can explain the physical effect of the accident and the resulting medical needs.

Similarly, accidents with a clear cause (someone rear-ended you or the other party ran a red light) will likely take less time to settle compared to an auto accident without a clear cause (there’s no video evidence or witness statements).

Accidents with unusual circumstances, like a missing road sign or taking place in a construction zone, can also complicate the investigation and increase how long it takes to settle the insurance claim.

Comparative Fault

Washington State is a comparative fault state, which means you can pursue a settlement agreement that compensates you for your injuries and property damage even if you’re partially at fault for the accident. In these cases, you’re assigned a percentage of the accident’s case, which reduces your final settlement amount by that percentage.

However, calculating and assigning that percentage isn’t always clear-cut. Again, the details matter. In a simple case (someone ran a red light), it’s generally easier to assign fault. But in more complex cases (multiple vehicles are involved, it’s not clear who had the right of way), calculating and assigning percent is more complicated, meaning it may take longer to settle your case.

Medical Care

While your insurance may cover the expense of any medical treatment you received for your immediate injuries, you likely need follow-up care and possibly long-term treatment, like physical therapy. If you have serious injuries, you may need ongoing support and medical care. Ensuring you’re fairly compensated for these medical bills often means collecting and interpreting your medical records, which can extend the timeline to settle your insurance claim.

Negotiations

Your attorney will want to ensure that with the injured client’s help they have identified all of the identifiable damages, to include medical bills, wage loss, out of pocket, future medical expenses. In addition it is important that detailed information is provided about how an injured client was impacted to help ensure fair compensation can be obtained for all of the harm and loss an individual suffers.

Experienced Representation

Settling a claim can be quick and simple in some cases, but often, auto accidents are anything but simple. While you can go through the settlement process without a personal injury lawyer, ensuring you receive fair compensation for your present and future expenses can be aided by retaining an experienced attorney who understands every step of the process and will look out for your best interests.

The attorneys at Anderson Law Injury Attorneys have over 50 years of experience representing car accident victims and dealing with insurance companies on your behalf. Contact us today to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation to see how we can help you.

The information contained on this website is intended for informational purposes only, and is not legal advice. Nothing in this website establishes an attorney-client relationship between us. Different facts can dramatically affect a legal opinion. You should consult an attorney for legal advice that pertains to your personal situation.