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What sets the pace
The biggest factor is your recovery. Most claims are not worth settling until your doctor can say whether you are healed or what care you will need going forward. Settling earlier risks leaving out costs that have not appeared yet. See should I accept the first offer for why timing matters.
Fault disputes slow things down. If the other driver blames you, the insurer may wait for the police report, video and witness statements. California’s comparative fault rule means your own share only reduces your damages and does not bar recovery (Li v. Yellow Cab Co.), but sorting out the percentages takes time.
The usual steps in a claim
Most claims move through the same stages: reporting the crash, medical treatment, gathering records and bills, sending a demand to the insurer, and negotiating. Each stage depends on other people, such as doctors’ offices sending records, which can take weeks on their own. Asking your providers early for itemized bills and records can save time later.
Medical liens also need to be handled before money goes out. Hospitals, health plans and providers may have claims against the settlement, and working those out is part of closing the case. Our page on medical liens explains what to expect. Your lawyer can ask lienholders for final amounts while the claim is still being negotiated, which shortens the wait.
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When a lawsuit is needed
If the insurer will not make a fair offer, filing a lawsuit is often the next step. A lawsuit adds stages like written discovery, depositions and mediation, which take longer. Many cases still settle before trial. For more serious crashes, see how long a truck accident lawsuit takes. Courts set their own schedules.
Surgery, a long recovery or a permanent injury usually means a longer claim, because the future care has to be measured. See surgery after a car accident. A longer timeline is often a sign that the claim is being valued in full rather than closed quickly. Ask your lawyer where your case stands.
What to do now to keep it moving
Go to every medical appointment and tell your doctors about all your symptoms. Keep copies of records, bills and receipts in one folder. Write down the claim number and the adjuster’s contact details. Collect proof of time missed from work, such as pay stubs and a note from your employer.
Respond to requests from your lawyer quickly, since missing paperwork is a common cause of delay. Do not sign a release or give a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurer before talking to a lawyer. Ask for a written explanation of any delay from the insurer. Keep copies of every letter.
Deadlines that cannot wait
Most California injury lawsuits must be filed within two years of the injury (Code of Civil Procedure 335.1). A claim against a city or county generally needs a written claim within six months (Government Code 911.2). For an uninsured motorist claim, one of the required steps generally must happen within two years of the accident (Insurance Code 11580.2(i)).
In Washington, the general injury lawsuit deadline is three years (RCW 4.16.080). A slow insurer does not extend any of these deadlines. Call Beverly Law at (310) 552-6959 or use the form if your claim seems stuck. You owe no fees or costs unless we win. We can check which deadlines apply.
Common questions
Why is my car accident settlement taking so long?
Common reasons include ongoing medical treatment, slow medical records, disputes about fault, liens that must be resolved, or an insurer that is waiting you out. Ask your lawyer or adjuster which step is holding things up, and keep the lawsuit deadline in view.
Can I speed up my car accident settlement?
You can help by keeping your appointments, sending records quickly and documenting lost income. Settling before treatment ends may be faster but can leave money out. Filing a lawsuit can also push an insurer to move, but it adds its own steps.
How long after a settlement do I get my money?
After you sign the release, the insurer sends payment, and liens and costs are paid from it before you receive your share. The exact timing depends on the insurer and on how quickly liens are resolved. Ask your lawyer for an estimate in your case.
Does the statute of limitations stop while I negotiate?
No. Negotiating does not pause the deadline to sue. Most California injury lawsuits must be filed within two years of the injury. If talks drag on, a lawsuit may need to be filed to protect your claim.
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Car and truck accident lawyer — Beverly Law
If you were hurt in a car or truck crash in California and Washington, talk to a personal injury attorney. Free, confidential, English or Spanish. You owe no fees or costs unless we win.
Related pages
The insurance company made a lowball offer: how to respond · Should I accept the first settlement offer after a car accident? · Is a car accident settlement taxable? · Car accident settlement with no injuries: what you can claim · Car totaled when the accident was not my fault: what happens now · All car and truck accident questions
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Important: This page is general information about California and Washington law, not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case is different; talk to a lawyer about yours. Last reviewed: November 5, 2026.