# How Long Does It Take to Get a Settlement Check From a Houston Car Accident? | Attorney Brian White **Table of Contents***[*Expand*]* 1. Drafting a Final Settlement Agreement  2. The Insurance Company Reviews the Settlement Agreement  3. How Settlement Checks Are Distributed 4. Factors Affecting Your Final Settlement Amount 5. Consult With a Houston Personal Injury Lawyer About Your Settlement Options ![How Long Does It Take To Get a Settlement Check From a Houston Car Accident?](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/How-Long-Does-It-Take-To-Get-a-Settlement-Check-From-a-Houston-Car-Accident-300x200.jpg) Once your Houston car accident lawsuit concludes, whether your attorney negotiated a settlement with the other party or you won your case at trial, you’re probably wondering when you’ll get your check.  With medical bills to pay and a vehicle to replace or repair, it’s little wonder that many [Houston car accident](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/houston-tx/car-accident-lawyer/) victims are quite anxious to know when to expect their settlement. The truth is that a few quick steps must generally take place before the money ends up in your pocket; this blog post will fill you in further. ## Drafting a Final Settlement Agreement  Once both parties come to an agreement at mediation or the trial is concluded, the final settlement of the case is drafted. Several documents are part of concluding a personal injury case, including:  - A [settlement agreement](https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/settlement) with the specific dollar amount  - Defendant’s release from further liability - Plaintiff’s agreement not to pursue further legal action - A non-disclosure agreement (may not apply in all cases) Once the settlement agreement is drafted and signed by all parties, it’s sent to the insurance company responsible for paying the claim. Remember, do not sign any forms or agreements until your Houston car accident lawyer reviews them first!  For a legal consultation call [(713) 500-5000](tel:+17135005000) ## The Insurance Company Reviews the Settlement Agreement  Even though the insurance company agreed to the settlement amount for your case, it still takes time to review the settlement agreement, especially if it’s for a larger amount. Settlements under about $50,000 won’t take as much time to review as one for $1 million or more.   Expect the insurance company to take anywhere from two to six weeks to review and approve releasing the settlement funds; if the check takes longer, contact your lawyer immediately.  ## How Settlement Checks Are Distributed Sometimes, the settlement check is sent directly to the plaintiff; other times, it’s sent to the attorney.  If you receive the check directly, it may be a good idea to deposit it in a separate bank account from your other funds. You can pay any debts associated with your case, like legal fees, directly from that account or fulfill a letter of protection with your healthcare provider.  This method also creates a distinct paper accounting of your settlement in case questions arise later and can preserve your settlement so that it’s yours alone.  If the check is mailed to the lawyer, they may deduct their legal fees directly from the award, then write a check to you for the balance. It’s still your responsibility to pay any outstanding medical bills or other costs from the case.  If you need additional medical care after the case is resolved, that will also be up to you to pay, although in some cases, the settlement amount includes provisions for anticipated future treatment.  [Click to contact](/contact-us/) us today ## Factors Affecting Your Final Settlement Amount Don’t start counting your money just yet — a few other factors can affect how much you’ll actually walk away with. Some people may face a [lien](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/texas-hospital-liens/) on their settlement, such as for unpaid child support, [unpaid medical bills](https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/PR/htm/PR.55.htm), or Texas Medicaid reimbursement. Your case could have required expert witnesses, and these costs are deducted from your final settlement. Your lawyer may have included paying expert witnesses in their invoice for services, but if not, you’ll need to pay them for their time.  Complete a [Case Evaluation Form](/contact-us/) Now ## Consult With a Houston Personal Injury Lawyer About Your Settlement Options Have you been harmed through the negligent actions or recklessness of someone else? You could be eligible to file a suit for damages and receive a compensation settlement to cover your medical bills and [missed wages from work](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/faqs/can-i-be-reimbursed-for-lost-wages-after-a-car-accident/). For more information,[contact](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/contact-us/) the[Houston](https://www.houstontx.gov/) car accident law firm of Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers by calling [(713) 500-5000](tel:+17135005000). **Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers – Houston**[3120 Southwest Freeway, Suite 350, Houston, TX 77098](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Attorney+Brian+White+Personal+Injury+Lawyers+-+Houston/@29.7309684,-95.4262545,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x8640bf255e7aaf73:0x52064b120afa59fe!8m2!3d29.7309684!4d-95.4262545!16s%2Fg%2F1tfrxw9q?entry=tts/) **Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers – East Fwy**[11811 East Fwy, Suite 630-06, Houston, TX 77029](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Attorney+Brian+White+Personal+Injury+Lawyers+-+East+Fwy/@29.773407,-95.2301421,17z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x8640bd52b80b3fe3:0xb5804dd15c47b17b!8m2!3d29.773407!4d-95.2301421!16s%2Fg%2F11r10lsb0x?source=g.page.share&entry=tts/) **Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers – South Loop**[2600 S Loop W, Suite 293, Houston, TX 77054](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Attorney+Brian+White+Personal+Injury+Lawyers+-+South+Loop/@29.6785093,-95.4184191,16z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x8640c1c0e435eacd:0x81fd3c6eb30bc542!8m2!3d29.6785093!4d-95.4184191!16s%2Fg%2F11ry4wjwqr?cid=9366709246148461890&_ga=2.209939733.1628598219.1648478482-1081226185.1622227003&shorturl=1&entry=tts/) **Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers – Katy Freeway**[11511 Katy Fwy Suite 515, Houston, TX 77079](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Attorney+Brian+White+Personal+Injury+Lawyers+-+Katy+Freeway/@29.7836667,-95.5861677,15z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x8640dbd008653a11:0x9786540c9ab0bfd9!8m2!3d29.7836667!4d-95.5861677!16s%2Fg%2F11y3dw2v44?sa=X&ved=1t:2428&ictx=111&entry=tts/) **Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers** **– Clear Lake** [1300 Bay Area Blvd Suite B268, Houston, TX 77058](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Attorney+Brian+White+Personal+Injury+Lawyers+-+Clear+Lake/@29.5598212,-95.1152728,15z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x86409d1b345242c9:0x5895a119f6ed1d9!8m2!3d29.5598212!4d-95.1152728!16s%2Fg%2F11lf7xm8n8?sa=X&ved=1t:2428&ictx=111&coh=219816&entry=tts&g_ep=EgoyMDI0MDgxNC4xKgBIAVAD/) **Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers** **– The Woodlands** [1776 Woodstead Ct ste 203, The Woodlands, TX 77380](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Attorney+Brian+White+Personal+Injury+Lawyers+-+The+Woodlands/@30.1548897,-95.4639792,15z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x864737efe5a3cb73:0xff70634b80d03844!8m2!3d30.1548897!4d-95.4639792!16s%2Fg%2F11y98y92_f?sa=X&ved=1t:2428&ictx=111&entry=tts&g_ep=EgoyMDI0MTExOS4yIPu8ASoASAFQAw%3D%3D/) Call or Text [(713) 500-5000](tel:+17135005000) or Complete a [Case Evaluation Form](/contact-us/) Car Accidents Blog Posts: [![Clear Lake Car Accident Statistics](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/wp-content/themes/brian-white/assets/app/img/default-thumb.webp)](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/clear-lake-car-accident-statistics/) [Clear Lake Car Accident Statistics](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/clear-lake-car-accident-statistics/) As one of the country’s largest metropolitan areas, Houston presents an outsized risk of severe and fatal [![Back Pain After a Car Accident — What’s Causing It?](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Back-Pain-After-a-Car-Accident-—-Whats-Causing-It-300x200.jpg)](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/back-pain-after-a-car-accident-whats-causing-it/) [Back Pain After a Car Accident — What’s Causing It?](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/back-pain-after-a-car-accident-whats-causing-it/) A car accident can traumatize your body. 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Pandemic lockdowns and a drop in tourist travel caused traffic levels to --- Source: https://attorneybrianwhite.com/faqs/how-long-does-it-take-to-get-a-settlement-check-from-a-houston-car-accident/