Alpert Schreyer Personal Injury Lawyers | December 5, 2025 | Personal Injury
If you were injured because of someone else’s negligence, receiving your personal injury settlement check is often the final step in a long and stressful process. Victims frequently ask, “How long does it take to get a settlement check?”
While every claim is unique, understanding the timeline can ease frustration and help you prepare for what comes next. Below, we break down the typical steps, important deadlines, and how Maryland personal injury law can impact your payment timeline.
1. The Settlement Agreement Phase
Before any money is issued, both sides must agree on the settlement amount and terms. Once an agreement is reached—either through negotiations, mediation, or shortly before trial—your attorney will draft a release of liability. This document confirms that you agree to accept the settlement funds and will not pursue further claims relating to the accident.
Under Maryland law, settlement agreements are enforceable contracts once both parties give consent. That means once you sign the release, the insurance company is legally bound to issue your check.
This step usually takes anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, depending on how quickly the insurance adjuster responds and whether any revisions to the release are required.
2. Insurance Company Processing Time
After the signed release is submitted, the insurance company must process the payment.
Most insurers issue settlement checks within 10 to 30 days, but processing delays can occur for several reasons, including:
- Mandatory internal review periods
- High-volume workloads during certain months
- Verification of medical bills or liens
- Adjuster turnover or reassignment
In many Maryland cases, victims receive their personal injury settlement check within two weeks, but the law does not impose a fixed deadline on insurance companies. This means delays—although frustrating—are not unusual. However, your attorney can follow up with the insurer to pressure a faster response when appropriate.
3. The Check Arrives at Your Attorney’s Office
Settlement checks are not mailed directly to the injury victim. Instead, they are sent to your personal injury attorney.
This allows your lawyer to:
- Verify that the check amount is correct
- Deposit the funds into a client trust account
- Pay any outstanding medical liens or expenses
- Deduct attorney’s fees and case costs
Law firms handle these steps carefully because they must comply with trust account regulations. Your attorney cannot release any funds until the check fully clears—which typically takes anywhere from 3 to 10 business days, depending on your bank’s policies.
4. Lien Resolution and Medical Bill Payment
One of the most time-consuming steps in the settlement timeline is resolving medical liens. If your medical care was paid by health insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, or a hospital that provided treatment on a lien basis, these entities must be paid back from your settlement.
Common types of liens include:
- Health insurance subrogation claims
- Medicare or Medicaid reimbursement
- Hospital or surgical liens
- Physical therapy or chiropractic liens
Maryland law requires certain lienholders—such as state medical assistance programs—to follow specific procedures when asserting and negotiating liens. This can add additional time to the process, especially if a lienholder is slow to respond or disputes the amount owed.
Lien negotiations can take a few days to several months, depending on the complexity of your medical treatment and the responsiveness of each entity.
5. Final Disbursement to the Client
After the settlement check clears, medical bills and liens are resolved, and attorney’s fees and case costs are deducted, you will receive your final settlement disbursement.
Your attorney will meet with you to review a detailed settlement disbursement sheet, which outlines:
- Total settlement amount
- Payments to medical providers
- Reduced lien amounts
- Attorney’s fees
- Case expenses
- Net amount to you
Once everything is reviewed and approved, your attorney will issue your check. Most clients receive their payout immediately or within 1–2 business days.
Contact Alpert Schreyer Personal Injury Lawyers for a Free Consultation
A personal injury settlement check can feel like the finish line—but there are a few important steps that have to happen after the case settles before money can legally be put in your hands. In Maryland, the overall timeline often ranges from a few weeks to a few months, depending largely on insurance processing speed, bank clearing times, and whether medical liens must be negotiated and paid.
If you have questions about where your case stands—or you’re dealing with an insurer that won’t follow through—Alpert Schreyer Personal Injury Lawyers can help. Contact our team today for a free consultation to discuss your claim and the fastest path to getting the compensation you deserve.
For more information, please contact Alpert Schreyer Personal Injury Lawyers to schedule a confidential consultation with a personal injury lawyer. Our team is available to assist clients in Lanham, Frederick, Rockville, Waldorf, Annapolis, and Lexington Park, Maryland.
We proudly serve Charles County, Prince George’s County, and its surrounding areas. Visit our law offices at:
Alpert Schreyer Personal Injury Lawyers – Waldorf Office
8 Post Office Rd Waldorf, MD 20602
(301) 932-9997
Available 24/7
Alpert Schreyer Personal Injury Lawyers – Lanham Office
4600 Forbes Blvd Ste #200 Lanham, MD 20706
(301) 936-0011
Available 24/7