How long does a Long Island car accident settlement typically take?

The wait can feel endless, but it’s rarely endless

If you’ve been rear-ended on the LIE or sideswiped on Montauk Highway, one of the first questions that pops up—right after “Will my neck ever feel normal again?”—is “How long will all of this take?” A car-accident settlement on Long Island can wrap up in a handful of months or drag on for several years. The spread is wide because every collision, injury, insurance carrier, and courtroom has its quirks. Understanding the moving parts (and knowing how to keep them moving) will help you set realistic expectations while protecting the value of your claim.

Why some Long Island cases resolve in months

1. Clear liability and modest injuries.
   When the other driver admits fault and your injuries heal within a few months, the insurer has little to dispute. Many no-fault personal-injury-protection (PIP) claims pay medical bills within five weeks because New York regulations push carriers to act fast.
2. Early documentation.
   Prompt crash-scene photos, EMS records, and witness statements remove guesswork. Adjusters work faster when the evidence is airtight.
3. No lingering medical treatment.
   Settling before you reach MMI is risky—you could accept too little. But when doctors give a clean bill of health quickly, valuations stabilize sooner.
4. Willing insurers.
   Some carriers prefer to close files rapidly, especially when liability is obvious and the policy limits are low.

Why other cases stretch into years

• Serious or complex injuries. Traumatic brain injuries, surgical fractures, and permanent nerve damage require months (sometimes years) of treatment before doctors can predict future costs. Until that prognosis lands in writing, meaningful negotiation is impossible.
• Disputed fault or multiple vehicles. Pile-ups on Sunrise Highway often spawn finger-pointing among several insurers. Each party’s reconstruction experts and attorneys need time to sift through black-box data, dash-cam footage, and witness depositions.
• High-dollar policies. When you pursue six- or seven-figure compensation, insurers fight harder. They order surveillance, dig through prior medical records, and occasionally stall, hoping financial pressure pushes you to compromise.
• Overloaded court dockets. Nassau and Suffolk County Supreme Courts control the pace once a lawsuit is filed. Pandemic-era backlogs mean discovery schedules that once took a year can now push two.
• Municipal defendants. Suing a town snow-plow driver or an MTA bus introduces notice-of-claim deadlines and additional red tape that rarely moves quickly.

Raw numbers: averages and outliers

New York personal-injury attorneys surveyed in 2024 reported that straightforward soft-tissue cases without litigation closed in 6 – 9 months, while more complicated claims that required filing suit averaged 18 – 30 months. Independent research published in February 2025 suggests a statewide window of 6 months to 6 years, depending on complexity. Although six-year battles are uncommon, catastrophic-injury cases with million-dollar policies and uncooperative insurers can indeed run that long.

Five practical steps to keep your claim moving

1. File no-fault paperwork within 30 days. Missing that statutory deadline gives the carrier a loophole to deny medical bills.
2. Follow your treatment plan. Gaps in care raise red flags for adjusters and juries alike. Consistent medical notes also timestamp your pain and limitations.
3. Keep a crash diary. Jot down missed workdays, therapy milestones, and everyday frustrations. Detailed journals shorten negotiations because they quantify hidden damages like loss of enjoyment.
4. Preserve evidence early. Dash-cam footage can be recorded over in a week; surveillance videos in a month. Quick subpoenas prevent spoliation.
5. Choose an advocate who litigates, not just negotiates. Carriers speed up when they know a trial is a real threat. Palermo Law’s litigation track record signals that delay tactics won’t pressure our clients into lowball deals.

The role of maximum medical improvement (MMI)

MMI marks the point at which doctors believe your condition is as good as it’s going to get. Settling beforehand risks underestimating future surgeries, therapies, and prescription costs. For broken bones, MMI may arrive in six months; for spinal fusions, it can take two years. Patience here can add significant value to a settlement, even if it stretches the timeline.

Mediation isn’t always a shortcut, but it often helps

Suffolk County’s alternative-dispute-resolution calendar slots most auto-collision suits for mediation within 12 months of filing. A neutral mediator can nudge both sides toward a middle ground without a full-blown trial. When mediation succeeds, paperwork usually finalizes within 60 days thanks to the court’s Order of Settlement.

What happens after you sign the release?

1. Defense counsel drafts a release. Your accident attorney reviews it to ensure no hidden clauses.
2. Order of Settlement is filed. The judge gives the defense either 30 or 60 days to cut the check.
3. Lien resolution. Medicare, Medicaid, and private health insurers get paid back, protecting you from future collections.
4. Final disbursement. After legal fees and liens, your net proceeds arrive, closing the financial chapter of your crash.

Patience with a plan

Waiting is frustrating, especially when medical bills pile up and paychecks shrink. Yet a rushed agreement can leave lifelong costs uncovered. By staying proactive—getting care, documenting everything, and partnering with a law firm that isn’t afraid of the courtroom—you convert waiting time into case value.

Ready for answers tailored to your case?

Palermo Law has protected injured Long Islanders for more than 30 years. We navigate the deadlines, detours, and courtroom delays so you can focus on healing. If you want straightforward advice on your potential timeline—without pressure or jargon—reach out today for a free consultation.