After a car accident, the last thing you want to do is hassle with an insurer to get a payout. Even once you get past all the negotiations and annoyance of filing your claim, you still have to wait to actually get the money.
You may wonder how long that will take. Unfortunately, it could take longer than you would like. There are a variety of factors that will play into the length of time. If your situation is complex, then a payout can take even longer.
Medical claims
If you have a lot of medical bills or will need medical care paid for in the future, this can slow down the process. Not only is it slowed because of having to coordinate with medical billers but it also is not easy to figure out future needs to get to the payment amount. The only upside to this is the insurance company will usually work directly with your providers and pay them instead of paying you and you paying the bills. So, it should not be too much of a hassle in the long run for you. But it can delay the rest of the payout.
Car damage
Your payout could be slow due to issues getting repair quotes. Your insurer will have to shop around and get various quotes about your vehicle, including its value and how much repair would cost. This will enable them to figure out if it is repairable or if it will be a total loss. The process can be slow going.
Other people
There are many people involved in the process of figuring out your payout amount. Any one of these people could slow down the process and make it take longer for you to get your money. Anyone who is not providing information when requested or who is dragging their feet to respond to inquiries will slow the whole process down.
One of the best ways to keep the payout process moving is to keep communication open. You can move it along much better if you are alert and responsive.