If you have recently suffered a car accident where the driver was uninsured or the guilty party fled the scene, you likely wish to take action.

Fortunately, the Alberta Motor Vehicle Accident Claim (MVAC) is in place to protect victims who otherwise wouldn’t be able to claim damages to their vehicle or person.

Our team at Martin G Schulz & Associates is happy to provide legal assistance to ensure you are adequately compensated for the damage you’ve experienced. However, if this is your first time working with an MVA lawyer, you may wonder: how long does it take to file a motor vehicle accident claim in the province of Alberta?

Several factors will determine the timeline for filing and receiving your MVA claim, but it can range from a few weeks to a couple of years. Below, we’ll discuss the most common reasons for delay to help you better understand the process of filing a claim.

Factors That Determine the Length of MVA Claim Processes

Level of complexity

Cases involving motor vehicle accidents are often complicated, and the level of complexity in your case will determine the length of the claim process.

Some delaying factors include if another person was in the vehicle at the time of the accident or if it’s difficult to determine who is the guilty party.

The extent of injuries and prognosis

To properly file your MVA claim with little issue, it’s vital that you are well aware of the extent of your injuries and what will be involved in your recovery. In many cases, you may need to delay filing until after you have fully completed your treatment and/or therapy.

Filing your claim prematurely may result in you receiving inaccurate compensation for the injuries you sustained.

If your accident resulted in injuries that require long-term care or caused permanent damage, it’s imperative to ensure you receive an adequate settlement. If you file incorrectly, you may have to pay out of pocket for most or all of your treatment.

Dealings with your insurance company

Insurance companies will frequently try their best to minimize the amount of money they have to pay out to their clients after receiving an MVA claim. They may try to dispute your stand regarding how much they really owe you.

For instance, they may try to suggest that the treatment you’re receiving for your injuries isn’t essential to your recovery and, therefore, you don’t need as much compensation.

Once your insurance company comes into play, working with one of MG Schulz’s MVA lawyers offers an excellent advantage. We will do our utmost to present a strong case in favour of your rights to both speed up the claim process and secure your entitled settlement.

Litigation process

In rare cases, you may not settle your claim with your insurance company and will instead have to go to court.

While these situations are often resolved before the trial ensues, once each party has had a chance to review the opposing case, those brought to trial can often be long and gruelling.

Once a case is brought to court, it may take several weeks, months, or even years to resolve.

Payment processing

The long road to filing a claim ends once your payment is processed. After a judge or you and your lawyer reach an agreement for your settlement, there will be a waiting period before you receive the funds owed. The payment will generally be issued within 30 days from the date of the agreement.

However, in some situations, the funds may take longer to approve, such as if the injured party is a minor or if the claim is in the form of a structured settlement.

Work With MG Schulz to File Your MVA Claim

Overall, filing an MVA claim is lengthy and daunting if you’re unfamiliar with the ins and outs of insurance negotiations.

However, by choosing Martin G Schulz & Associates as your representation for your case, you can navigate this long process with an experienced MVA lawyer by your side and gain a better chance of receiving your deserved settlement.

While we do our utmost to expedite the claim process, it’s important to exercise patience as we go through the details of your case. While we look after the legal side of things, we encourage you to focus on recovering from this difficult experience and regaining your mental and physical strength.