How long does it take to receive compensation after accepting an offer?

Find out if you are eligible to make a claim for compensation.

Take our 10-second claim test now and find out how much compensation you could be entitled to.

Start test

After you have accepted a settlement offer for your personal injury claim, you will normally receive your compensation payout within 14-28 days from the date of settlement.

It could take longer to receive your compensation though, depending on a variety of factors that we explain below…

Out of court settlement

If your personal injury claim is settled out of court, then your solicitors will attempt to agree with the other party that you receive your compensation within 14 days. However it can sometimes take longer to receive the compensation payout.

If the payout is not forthcoming in the timescale you agree with the other party, then you may have to issue court proceedings to force the payment.

Court settlement

If your compensation settlement is reached in court, then the judge will state when the other party is expected to make the payment – which is usually within 21 days of the settlement date.

If the payment is not forthcoming within the timescale set out by the judge then your personal injury lawyer can issue further court proceedings to enforce the judgement.

Claims involving foreign insurance companies

If you have an accident abroad and make a claim involving a foreign insurance company, then it is common to have to wait slightly longer for the compensation payout.

In many cases it can take a few weeks for payment to be received from a foreign insurance company – which should be made clear to you by your lawyer.

Although it can sometimes take weeks to receive your compensation payout, it is worth stating that some insurance companies work faster than others and often send the payment as soon as they receive confirmation of the settlement. In these circumstances, you could receive your compensation in as little as five working days after the settlement date.

How long after a medical will I get an offer?

Another common question we get asked regarding the personal injury process is: how long does compensation take after a medical?

As part of pursuing a personal injury claim, your solicitor will arrange for a medical examination to assess the extent of your injury and the effect it has had on your life.

The medical will be carried out by an independent expert who will then produce a medical report, which is a critical piece of evidence in support of your claim and will be used to determine the amount of compensation you are entitled to.

How long you have to wait for compensation following the medical depends on what is happening on the third party’s side of the claim…

After the medical, the Claimant and their solicitor will review the report and ensure they are satisfied with the findings. Then they will send it to the Defendant’s solicitor. Unless the claim is being processed through the Pre-Action Protocol then there is no standard time limit for the third party to make a settlement offer once they have received the medical report.

As part of the Pre-Action Protocol, the Defendant’s side has up to 35 days to consider the evidence provided and to make a settlement offer – although these time limits can be extended upon request.

Find out if you are eligible to make a claim for compensation.

Take our 10-second claim test now and find out how much compensation you could be entitled to.

Start test

Read more...

Personal injury claims payout guide

Judicial College guidelines - personal injury awards explained

What is negligence?

Personal injury claims process

Personal injury protocol explained

Personal injury claims time limits

Personal injury Q+A's

What's the difference between a lawyer and a solicitor?

Do you pay tax on personal injury compensation?