How Long Does a Personal Injury Case Take?
Almost everybody who sustains an injury after an accident due to someone else’s negligence wants to know how long it will take to settle their case. As such, if you find yourself in this situation, you should consult an attorney immediately. It is natural for an injured party to want to know how long their case will take because being hurt because of someone else’s negligence is never an easy thing to handle. An injury sustained due to another party’s negligence can have adverse effects on your life. For example, when you cannot attend work due to an injury, it becomes difficult for you to pay bills. Because of this and other adverse effects, it is understandable when you want to know the exact period you have to wait before receiving benefits.
Unfortunately, it is impossible to tell the exact time limit of personal injury cases because one case’s timeline is never the same as another case’s timeline. All personal injury cases are different, and as such, they can never take the same amount of time to settle. The timeline of a personal injury case depends on the specifics of that particular case. Settling one case might take a few months, whereas settling another might take years. For example, cases involving injuries that are not complex take less time to resolve than cases involving more complex injuries.
What happens when you have a personal injury case and want it to be settled as fast as possible? Accepting a low offer is an option. However, you should never take a low settlement offer just because you want your case to be settled fast. Taking less money to see your case settle quickly is an unwise move that will only leave you feeling miserable. A low settlement will most probably not cater for all the losses you incurred after the accident.
Even though no one can tell for sure how long it takes to settle personal injury cases, your case only has a chance of being resolved within a fair amount of time if you hire a qualified personal injury attorney. A qualified attorney can help you tackle some of the factors that prolong case settlements.
Even when your personal injury case looks like it is taking too long to settle, remember that your attorney is doing the best they can to see the case settled.
Below is a look at why a settlement might take longer than expected.
Why Is My Personal Injury Case Taking Too Long To Settle?
Your case might take a long time to settle because of various reasons. Three of the main reasons why some cases take longer than others are outlined below. Your case might take longer to resolve if;
- The Case Involves a Substantial Amount of Money
In Florida, insurance companies always do their due diligence before paying substantial amounts of money to claimants. Before an insurance company pays a significant amount of money to a victim, relevant parties must conduct a thorough investigation. Only after they confirm their lack of good defense, the severity of your injuries, and your credibility will they pay you. Doing all this takes time.
On the other hand, some insurance companies delay paying victims to force them to settle for less.
- You Are Yet To Reach Maximum Recovery
Before you reach a maximum recovery level, it is impossible to calculate the value of your case. If you are yet to achieve full recovery, you will need to wait until you recover so that you and your attorney can accurately calculate your case’s value. It is only through waiting that you will receive fair compensation.
- There Are Factual/Legal Problems With the Case
Several factual or legal problems could lead to your personal injury case taking longer to settle. One common legal issue that arises in personal injury cases is the problem of proving liability.
An example of a factual problem is medical experts being unsure about the cause of a claimant’s injury.
Sometimes when a case takes longer to settle due to the above-discussed reasons, a victim might be tempted to accept a low offer. Regardless of how frustrated you feel, always remember to exercise patience when faced with such a situation. In most cases, the outcome is always worth the patience.
Allow a Naples Personal Injury Attorney To Help You Today
If you need help with your personal injury case or you feel worried about your case taking too long and about receiving an unfair settlement, contact a Naples personal injury attorney at The Law Offices of Marc L. Shapiro, P.A., at 239-649-8050 to schedule a consultation.
Resource:
flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2015/627.736
