The answer to this question depends on several factors, including the severity of your injury and whether or not you were partially at fault for the accident. Cases that are more serious usually take longer to settle than less severe ones. This is because more severe injuries typically have a greater financial impact and are generally harder to prove than minor injuries.
When You Have an Attorney Working For You
Your lawyer will begin evaluating your claim by determining how much your claim is worth. This means comparing it to other similar cases and performing jury verdict research. Getting this information will help your lawyer determine how long it might take for your case to settle, and how much you might be able to recover in a settlement or in a lawsuit.
When Your Case Gets Started
After you have a personal injury lawyer on your side, your lawyer will begin investigating the accident and your medical treatment. Your lawyer will then compile a demand package with documents and records that support your claim. This may include medical bills, doctor’s notes, proof of lost wages, and other documents that support your claim.
How Long Your Case Takes to Settle
Depending on the severity of your injury, your case can take anywhere from months to years to settle. This is because minor injuries, such as sprains and fractures, can be settled quickly while more severe injuries, such as brain damage or death, might require extensive medical treatment before they can be settled.
Once your case has been filed, it can take a while before the court schedules your trial date. This is because many courts are overwhelmed with cases and can sometimes push back dates for months at a time to allow more time for the parties to work out an agreement.
Insurance Companies Are Hungry for a Settlement
Insurance companies are often desperate to settle personal injury cases. They know that they will not be able to pay the maximum amount of money in court, so they are willing to settle for less. They also want to avoid going through a trial, which can be lengthy and expensive.
If you are not able to settle your case within the limits of the insurance company’s policy, you can file a lawsuit against them. This will involve a lot of work and can be time-consuming, but it is likely to result in a settlement that covers all of your damages.
When Your Attorney Has a Stable Legal Team
Your attorney will have a team of experienced professionals on his or her team that can assist in the settlement process. These people can represent you in settlement negotiations and also in a trial.
The duration of a personal injury case will vary from one case to the next, because each case is unique. However, on average, it takes about 12 to 14 months for most personal injury claims to be resolved through a settlement or by a trial verdict.
