How Long Do Personal Injury Cases Take to Settle?
Posted on Thursday, September 15th, 2022 at 3:48 pm
When an accident occurs, your life can change in an instant. This may occur because of a traffic crash. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that more than 2.2 million people were injured in traffic accidents in the U.S. in 2020. Of course, traffic accidents aren’t the only way people can get hurt.
If you’ve been injured in any kind of accident that was not your fault, you may be entitled to receive financial compensation. You need to discuss your case with an experienced personal injury attorney. When you discuss your case with a lawyer, they will be able to provide you with an estimate of how long your case might take to complete.
Each personal injury case is unique, and the case duration depends on various factors. No set schedule applies to all situations. Cases that are relatively clear and simple can resolve within months. More complex cases can potentially take one to two years or longer. The following are common factors that impact the amount of time a case takes to settle.
The Severity of Your Injuries
The more severe injuries are, the longer a case takes to settle. A major factor is the longer recovery time associated with severe injury. This means that the amount of medical treatment you require may be unknown for some time after the accident. Because of this, the medical costs you incur will also be unknown until you reach maximum medical improvement. This is the point at which doctors have determined that your condition will not get better with additional treatment.
In addition, accidents involving severe injury often involve higher amounts of potential compensation. Insurance companies will likely fight harder to minimize the amount they must pay or avoid paying altogether.
How Eager You Are to Settle
If you are willing to accept less money than the maximum amount you may be entitled to, you could reach a resolution more quickly. Taking the earliest settlement offered might be attractive if you face significant medical bills and wonder how you will pay for them.
Insurance companies might assume that you are eager to reach a settlement and use this as a bargaining tactic. They may deliberately move slowly, hoping this increases the pressure on you to settle. If you accept a settlement for less than the total compensation you may be owed, they can pay you less money. If you are willing to pursue the maximum amount of compensation that may legally be yours, this can increase the time it takes to settle.
The Complexity of the Accident
An investigation will be performed to determine what happened during the accident and who is at fault. When an accident involves multiple parties, it can take much longer to settle. This is also the case for accidents where the details are less clear.
In both situations, considerable documentation and evidence must be collected and analyzed. An example of an accident type that may settle more quickly is a slip and fall accident. In contrast, a truck accident can take longer to settle because it may include multiple parties and may require more time to determine who is at fault.
What if You Can’t Settle?
Most personal injury cases are settled outside the courtroom. However, this does not always happen. If settlement negotiations are unsuccessful, a case will go to trial. This extends the amount of time it takes to reach a resolution. Several factors can further increase the timeline. These can include whether the court is backlogged and whether either side files an appeal after the verdict is issued.
How Lawrence & Associates Accident and Injury Lawyers, LLC Can Help
When you choose us to represent you, you can trust that we have your best interests in mind. We will pursue the maximum amount of compensation to which you may be entitled. This may include:
- Medical bills
- Prescription medication
- Physical therapy
- Future medical care
- Lost wages
- Loss of earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Disfigurement
Our attorneys
will keep you informed throughout the process of pursuing compensation. We will let you know what to expect as your case develops. Lawrence & Associates Accident and Injury Lawyers, LLC will handle all negotiations for you. We will discuss any offers with you and advise you whether they are sufficient.
Our personal injury lawyers prepare each case as if it was going to trial. We will be ready to fight for you in court if a settlement is not reached.
Call Us Today
If you have been hurt by an accident caused by someone else, you may be entitled to compensation. Call the Cincinnati personal injury lawyers of Lawrence & Associates Accident and Injury Lawyers, LLC now at (513) 351-5997 to speak with an experienced personal injury attorney. You do not have to face this difficult time alone. Contact us to schedule a free consultation today.
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