If you have experienced an injury as a result of someone else’s negligence, you may be facing costly medical bills, lost wages, and prescription costs. If you have hired an attorney to pursue your personal injury claim, you may be wondering how long it will take for the case to settle.
The answer depends on the facts and complexity of the case. If your injuries are especially severe, you will need to follow your doctor’s advice and follow up with any treatment recommended until you have reached maximum medical improvement. If you will need several surgeries and rehabilitation following an accident, your case may take longer to settle than a case that involves whiplash injuries. This is because you do not want to settle for less than the value of the claim before you know the full cost of your treatment.
A case may take longer to settle if liability is an issue. A plaintiff in a personal injury case must prove liability (who was at fault) as well as damages (the extent to which the defendant’s conduct caused the plaintiff’s injuries and other losses). If the defendant claims that they were not at fault for the accident, the case may take longer to settle and may even proceed to a jury trial. If the damages are significant, the insurance company may spend more time and money defending the case than it would if the plaintiff is willing to settle for a smaller sum.
A case may take longer than usual to settle is if there is a lot of money involved. This usually happens when a very serious injury or death occurred as a result of the accident. It can also occur if there is a manufacturing company involved and the plaintiff is asking for punitive damages. Insurers will pay more to defend a big case, which can cause the lawsuit to take longer to settle because the attorneys involved will typically request time to complete discovery requests, depose witnesses and consult experts. In some cases, this is a tactic to get the plaintiff to get tired of waiting and settle their claim for less money than it is worth.
The Cartwright Law Firm may be able to help families who have experienced injuries due to the negligence of another person. In California alone, there were 3,357 fatal crashes in 2016. Despite safety features available in newer model vehicles, car accidents are a major cause of injuries, death and lost work every year. If you or your loved one has experienced an injury as a result of a car accident having a personal injury attorney at the Cartwright Law Firm fight for you can keep you from settling for less than your case is worth.
Each case is different, and legal counsel at the Cartwright Law Firm can keep you informed of the status of your case. Some cases may take longer to settle than others due to the complexity of the case. A personal injury lawyer at the Cartwright Law Firm may be able to assist you during each stage of your case, including taking the case to a jury trial if the insurance company refuses to settle.
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