As a law firm, a large part of our career fulfillment comes from helping severely injured people place their lives back together. We have seen similar situations, time, and time again throughout the years. People are scared and are usually dealing with hundreds of hardships after an accident. One of the most common questions people have is, “how long will my case take to settle?” As a legal representative, our job is to get a fair settlement as quickly as possible for our clients. That being said, let’s take a quick look at some of the factors that weigh in on how long a case takes to finalize.
It is important to remember that no two injury cases are the same.
Usually, when we are asked questions similar to the one above, people are stressed and worried. Dealing with medical expenses and lost wages only adds to the burdens that injuries cause. The short and simple answer is that the time your case takes depends on your specific situation. Usually, three main elements comprise how long an injury case takes to settle either in or out of court.
Medical Issues and Treatment.
The first thing you or a loved one should always do after an accident is to seek medical treatment. Lost life cannot be replaced, and you must be sufficiently taken care of should an accident occur. Depending on how injured you are, your treatment can take weeks, months, or even years to conclude. The time your case needs can depend on how long your treatment time will take. Often, injury cases take longer to resolve than anyone wants because the client needs time to heal before final medical costs need to be calculated.
The complexity of your case.
To put yourself in the best situation to win a favorable and fair settlement, you need to have a strong case proving your injury claims. Your attorney will be able to provide advice on how best to move forward. If your injuries were the result of a straightforward car accident, the necessary evidence might be easy to obtain. Examples can include witness statements, police reports, and photographs taken at the scene of the accident. If your case is complicated, for example, a medical malpractice case, you may need expert reports from other doctors. These reports can take time to create but are often necessary to show negligence or breach the standard of care from a medical professional.
Large money and procedural problems
Another factor that can ultimately determine how long a case will last depends on the amount of money at stake. Large and catastrophic injury claims need larger amounts of money to ensure that victims and affected parties can recuperate from losses and rebuild their lives. When dealing with larger amounts of money, it will take insurance companies longer to reach a point where they are offering a fair settlement. You’re running a greater chance of the case needing to go to court instead of being settled through mediation. Being patient while your large settlement occurs can be challenging, but it is worth the time investment at the end of the day.
Don’t fight for your legal rights on your own
There are many misconceptions about what it is like to work with an injury law firm. From our experience, 99 out of 100 times, people greatly benefit from having legal representation instead of representing themselves. If you have questions about a personal injury case, we are happy to offer a free case evaluation at our office. Contact Utah Personal Injury Lawyers today to learn what we can do for you.</font color>
