No two personal injury lawsuits are ever exactly the same, so it can be hard to tell how long it might take to settle or win your case. Especially in the middle of the pandemic, attorneys, insurance agents, and courts are not operating at full capacity. This can further delay your case. Here are a few other things you should know about how long it will take to settle your personal injury case.
Extent of Your Injuries
Part of what determines how long it takes to get a settlement or payout depends on the extent of your injuries. The liable party is should compensate you for your medical bills and lost wages during your recovery; but if that recovery takes months or years, you typically would need to wait until you have reached maximum medical improvement and your doctors (and attorney) have a good idea as to what is your final diagnosis, future prognosis, and what future medical care will be needed, if any.
In instances where a permanent disability is suffered or medical treatment will be ongoing beyond the statute of limitations for filing a lawsuit, then you may need to go ahead and start working toward a settlement, or file a lawsuit, prior to reaching maximum medical improvement.
The ethics of the insurance companies involved
Often, the person or business responsible for your injuries is more than willing to compensate you, but their insurance company might be dragging their feet. If their insurance company denies or delays your claim, it could take some time to get them back to the negotiating table and reach a settlement. On the other hand, if the insurance company is ethical and has a reputation of processing claims quickly, you could have a settlement in as little as a few weeks or a couple of months.
Determining fault
If it is not clear who is at fault for an accident that caused personal injury, it could add to the time it takes to settle your case. Although fault is often easy to assess, some situations are complex and may involve more than two parties. When fault has to be determined, it can add to the tasks of both your attorney and the insurance company.
If you have recently been in any type of accident that caused personal injury, you should contact us immediately for a consultation. The best way to speed up the process is to have an attorney fighting on your side as early as possible after a motor vehicle accident or other personal injury claim.