If you were involved in a motorcycle crash, you’re probably dealing with medical bills and missed paychecks – and at some point, you have probably asked yourself if you will actually receive the settlement check that you have worked for and deserve. How long does the motorcycle accident claim process actually take?
What’s a Realistic Timeline for Your Motorcycle Settlement?
According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data, an estimated 82,687 motorcyclists sustained an injury in a road accident in one recent year, with many of them working with insurance companies to claim compensation for their collision-related costs.
Most motorcycle accident settlements take between three months and 18 months to complete. Insurance agencies try to wrap up cases with minor injuries within 30 days, while complicated cases can drag on for several years. The national average sits around six months to one year.
Why Do Some Cases Take So Much Longer Than Others?
The timeline for your case depends on several key factors:
- How long your medical treatment lasts
- Who caused the collision
- The insurance policy limits that apply to your case
- Each party’s willingness to settle
- The skill of each party’s legal team
- The applicable court’s schedules (in case you need to take your claim before a judge)
What Are the Key Milestones in Your Settlement Process?
Assuming that you hire a personal injury attorney to help you in the process, your case will typically move through these stages:
- Filing Your Claim – Your attorney contacts all relevant insurance companies and starts collecting evidence.
- Investigation Phase – Your attorney will then start compiling police reports, witness interviews, and accident reconstruction data.
- Medical Stabilization – You reach maximum medical improvement (MMI), allowing you to calculate how much you need for full compensation.
- Demand Package Submission – Your attorney sends a detailed compensation request to the applicable insurance agency, including the sum of your medical bills, lost wages, and pain-and-suffering calculations.
- Negotiation Period – The insurance companies and your attorney discuss a reasonable sum for your injuries, with offers and counter-offers.
- Litigation – If negotiations stall, your attorney will file a lawsuit, which then triggers discovery, depositions, and trial preparation. Arizona law gives you two years from the date of your accident to file a lawsuit.
- Final Payment – Once everyone signs the settlement agreement, you can typically expect your check within three to six weeks.
Should You Accept That First Settlement Offer?
Early offers typically arrive 20 to 30 days after your demand letter. These initial amounts almost always fall below the amount that you deserve – insurance companies hope that you will accept quick cash rather than fight for full compensation.
While rejecting the first offer can add weeks or months to your timeline, it usually results in significantly higher final settlements.
How Can Strong Evidence Speed Up Your Case?
Quality evidence – dash-cam footage, witness statements, and expert accident reconstruction – gives insurance companies fewer excuses to delay. When no one can dispute the party that caused your accident, cases often settle much more quickly than when one or more parties dispute liability. Here are some steps you can take to speed up the process:
- Save All Receipts – Document every expense related to your injury, including medical equipment, prescription medications, and transportation to appointments.
- Follow Your Treatment Plan – If you miss a doctor’s appointment, the insurance company could argue that your injuries are not as serious as you made them seem.
- Avoid Social Media – Adjusters often look through posts for evidence that contradicts your stated injuries.
- Get Legal Help Early – An experienced legal team will know how to gather evidence efficiently and file your claim promptly and properly.
How the Valley Injury Team (Bradshaw, Barlow & Jones) Can Help
If you get into a motorcycle accident and need a dedicated advocate to negotiate with the insurance companies, trust the motorcycle accident attorneys at Valley Injury Team. We have recovered millions in personal injury lawsuits and settlements each year, with a track record of success in motorcycle collision cases.
Contact the motorcycle accident attorneys at Valley Injury Team today to get started with a free consultation.
