How Long Does It Take for Geico to Settle a Case?

Car accidents are not uncommon, and it is not unusual to wait a certain amount of time for a settlement to come in from your insurance company or from the insurance company of the opposing driver. Many times, these settlements take months to arrive, and there may be needless battling back and forth about fault and liability, as well as arguments over the amount of sought-after damages. Geico is one such insurance company that is notorious for taking a long time to settle claims. How much time it takes varies, of course, from case to case, but our experienced lawyers will be able to help you receive a settlement as quickly as possible. Our clients often come to us in the wake of a car accident and require some kind of assistance, or else they have questions concerning the nuances of Geico. Some examples of these questions include:

• How long does it take for Geico to settle an accident claim?
• How long does it take for Geico insurance to settle a claim?
• How many months do I have to wait to get paid by Geico after an accident?
• How long does Geico take to send a settlement check?
• How long does it take Geico to pay a claim?
• How long does Geico take to process a personal injury claim?

Slow or Fast Settlement?
When it comes to car accident claims, some people are very fortunate to have fast settlements. Often, these settlements are given out when there is no instance of bodily harm and merely concern property damage. A simple fender bender at a traffic light, for instance, or cosmetic damage to the vehicle is not a big deal. Even more severe crashes, such as those that involve broken or twisted wheels, engine damage, or dented and caved in doors, may be swiftly settled. The only documents that need to be considered are the insurance policies of the drivers and the estimates delivered by the mechanics. A driver who was not at fault and who suffered no injuries can submit his claim to Geico and expect much less pushback than one who was harmed in an accident. This is because there is relatively nothing for Geico to dispute; the extent of the damages to your vehicle can be evaluated by photographs and videos, and the repair costs are explained by the mechanic in his estimate. Often, insurance agents at Geico will opt to settle so that they can focus elsewhere. The only hindrance would be whether or not the person insured under Geico has an adequate insurance policy.

Additionally, these injury-less accidents may mean that you do not require the assistance of a lawyer. There is no complex negotiating that goes into these claims, and any follow up appointments or reminders to settle the case can be done by the individual. Many people prefer this type of situation, as it allows them to retain all compensation from a settlement with no portions being meted out to any attorneys.

On the other hand, if you do sustain injuries in a car accident, a claim will take much longer to settle. This is due in part to two main reasons: one, in order to pursue medical compensation for your injuries, you must have either reached maximum medical improvement or reached a full recovery. This can take weeks or months if these injuries were particularly debilitating. Geico won’t know how much it would have to pay until all of your medical bills are completed and handed in. Further, Geico and other insurance companies have a tendency to downplay the extent of your injuries and will deny that you need the treatment or compensation you are demanding. It is not uncommon for your claim to be repeatedly denied or pushed back because Geico wants you to give up and stop pursuing compensation, or else accept a drastically low offer.

Our Most Recent Victories Against Geico

Determining a Timeframe for your Settlement
An attorney experienced in Geico insurance cases will be able to assist you in receiving a settlement in a timely manner. If you enlist the assistance of a lawyer, he will make sure to keep on top of your claim and repeatedly stay in touch with Geico to make sure your case does not get pushed aside.

Even with the help of an attorney, you may not see Geico issue a check for your accident claim for some weeks. In general, you would not issue a demand letter for compensation until your medical bills have been collected, which may take some weeks. The letter must make its way to Geico’s offices, where an insurance adjuster will review the case. Adjusters often drag their feet and refuse to make a decision in a timely manner, but if all goes well, it should not take more than a few months to see a settlement for your accident claim.

Sadly, this is often not the reality, and there must be ample negotiation with the insurance agent, and if, at the end of all the discussions, he still does not want t pay any compensation, you can expect the case to go to court. Many times, Geico will settle right before the court date because they know they have a greater chance of losing in court and do not want to pay any other excessive fees. It can be of great benefit to you to retain one of our attorneys with expertise in Geico Insurance cases, as you have a greater chance of receiving a settlement than if you were attempting to negotiate alone.

Factors in Length of Time for a Settlement
Insurance agents will usually look at your medical bills and determine what is reasonable and what is excessive. As stated above, you won’t expect a settlement before your treatment has ended. However, you may have requests for future treatment. Agents will also look at the other requests you have, such as for lost wages, damaged property, and emotional damage, and will make a decision based on what they feel is fair.

It does not take a short amount of time to deliberate over all of these factors, and often, a lawyer will have to negotiate for each one. If all else fails, these will be the damages pursued in court, and due to how complex they are, can net varying amounts in a settlement.

With the help of an attorney, you can make sure that if Geico does send a check for a car accident claim, it will not be for a paltry sum, but a sizeable, fair, adequate amount.

Acting in Bad Faith
One of our experienced Los Angeles lawyers will also be able to save you from acts of bad faith by Geico. An act of bad faith by Geico can be considered any number of actions that go against a positive relationship or that violate any terms of a policy; for instance, with how long Geico takes to offer a settlement, many people may chalk it up to simple negotiation tactics. However, after a certain point, it can be considered bad faith. The same is true of offering drastically low first offers, lying about policy details, misrepresenting or misdirecting its customers, or requesting that its customers not pursue legal assistance or action.

If you feel that Geico has committed any of these actions, consult with one of our lawyers. We can help you sue Geico and file a lawsuit for bad faith.

Reviews from Real Clients

Dealing with Geico after my accident was the worst. My lawyer was really the only reason that my claim was successful. He took care of everything and made sure that I was compensated fairly for my injury claim.

Luis G.

I was in an accident with a reckless driver. Upon calling Geico to file my claim myself, I was met with roadblock after roadblock, so I called my lawyer. My lawyer dealt with Geico and was able to successfully negotiate a fair settlement that covered all of my losses.

Charles W.

I definitely recommend Normandie Law Firm. They are the best team to fight Geico insurance after an accident.

Amanda V.

Geico refused to cooperate with me after my accident, so I called Normandie to get the help of an expert. My lawyer dealt with the insurance company and fought for my rights. My lawyer got me the compensation that I was owed.

Carl B.

When to Reach Out
Our expert lawyers at Normandie Law Firm can help you speedily receive a settlement for your accident. Contact us if you have been involved in a truck accident, pedestrian accident, bicycle accident, or motorcycle accident, and we will aggressively hound Geico to settle your claim in a fair manner, or else we will take them to court.

Call us today for a free consultation with one of our lawyers; you can ask any questions you want about the legal process or for more details on Geico’s business practices. One of our top-rated lawyers will be able to answer your queries. Additionally, if you select us for legal representation, you are promised a zero fee guarantee on your case, which states that you pay no out of pocket expenses during the litigation process. Our payment only comes if we win your case, and it is taken out of the settlement we earn for you. If we lose, you don’t owe us a penny.

Contact Normandie Law Firm for more information on how long it may take for Geico to settle your car accident claim.

MORE INFORMATION ON GEICO INSURANCE CLAIMS

How to Negotiate Accident Settlement with Geico – Negotiating Tips

Average Geico Settlement Amounts for Auto, Truck, and Motorcycle Accidents

What Is the Average Settlement of a Geico Whiplash Accident Lawsuit