How Long Does it Take to Get a Personal Injury Settlement Check

What Happens After a Settlement Release is Signed?

• The release goes to the insurance company for processing. After you sign the settlement release, it gets sent to the insurance company. The insurance company will process the release through their system and close out your claim once processing is complete.

• A check gets sent out to your attorney. After your claim is closed with your insurance company, it will write a check for the settlement amount and send the check to your attorney.

• Your attorney will place the proceeds in trust and pay any debts. Once your attorney receives your settlement check, he or she is required to place the proceeds into a trust or escrow account. If any liens are asserted against your settlement, your attorney must settle and pay those out of the settlement proceeds.  Medical liens can be asserted by medical providers if you have unpaid medical bills, auto or medical insurance companies if they made any payments related to your personal injury claim, Medicare or Medicaid if any payments were made, and child support agencies for unpaid child support.

• Your attorney’s fees and costs will be paid out of the settlement check. After any liens are paid, your attorney will deduct proceeds for his or her fees and costs. This may be a percentage of your settlement or an hourly fee plus costs, depending on your agreement with your personal injury attorney.

• You will receive a check. After all necessary costs are deducted from the settlement amount, a check will be made out for the remaining amount and be sent to you by your attorney.

What Is the Average Amount of Time to Receive a Settlement Check?

The average amount of time to receive a settlement check after a release is signed is about five to six weeks.

However, several factors can delay this process from the specific process at your insurance company to debts and payments that may hold up your payment.

If it has been more than six weeks since you signed a release and you have not heard anything or received a check, contact your attorney to ask for an update. He or she should be able to let you know about any updates and why you haven’t received your check yet.

Factors That Can Delay Your Check

• The insurance company is taking longer than expected to process your settlement. There are several reasons why there may be a holdup on the insurance company’s end. Someone may be out-of-office or have multiple settlement releases to process. There may be a particularly lengthy internal process at the insurance company in question. Your attorney may be able to find out what the delay is by calling the insurance company.

• Your attorney has received a notice of liens. After your settlement is processed, liens may be asserted against your settlement. If your attorney receives notice of any liens against your settlement, he or she will wait for confirmation of these liens to pay them out of the settlement amount. Since multiple liens may be asserted, it may take some time for your attorney to get confirmation and make the payment on each one.

• Your attorney is in the process of settling liens. Many times, your attorney will try to negotiate with lienholders to see if they will settle for a lower amount so that you can have more money left over. These negotiations can take some back-and-forth, especially with multiple lienholders.

• Your attorney has not received the check. Whether there is a holdup on the insurance company’s end or a delay with the mail, your attorney may not have received the check yet, adding a delay in the process.

Visit Top Personal Injury Doctors for the Best Medical Care Through Your Claims Process

An important part of the personal injury settlement process is the medical care you receive. Seeking out an experienced personal injury physician will ensure that your injuries are properly treated and thoroughly documented.

Doctors that are listed in our directory have a long history of working with personal injury clients, and we have an upstanding reputation for delivering the best treatment for each patient. Their job is to get you back on your feet so that you can get back to work and your life.

If you have been injured and need to find an experienced personal injury doctor, call us at 1-800-879-8440 today.