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How long does it take to resolve a personal injury case?

Product Liability

If you are injured during any type of accident and enlist the services of a personal injury lawyer, you may wonder how long it will take to settle your case. In many cases, you will want the case to be settled as soon as possible; therefore, you can go on about your normal routines. In other cases, you truly need the case to be settled in order to get the compensation that you deserve; therefore, you will be able to pay your bills and everything else that you need to do. In most cases, you can settle your case quickly, but it comes with drawbacks. The main drawback is that you will probably have to accept less money.

Why Does It Take So Long?

For some personal injury cases, the process has to take a considerable amount of time. There are many reasons as to why this happens. One of the first reasons is that there appears to be legal problems or inaccurate information with the case. A second reason that the case may take a long time to settle is that there is a lot of money involved. A third reason is that you have not yet completely recovered from the injuries that you sustained as a result of the accident. If your particular personal injury case involves any of these three reasons, you can expect for it to take a long time to settle.

Problems with the Case

There are many problems that can cause the case to take a long time to settle. One issue can be having a difficult time proving liability. When this happens, the insurer may not issue a reasonable settlement. Therefore, an attorney will have to hire legal experts to prove that the injury occurred as a result of the defendant’s negligence. When there are legal issues associated with the case, then the insurer will not make an offer to settle the case. A second problem with the case could be problems associated with the damages. A primary example of this is when the doctor cannot show that the injuries were caused by negligence. Without this proof, it is impossible to settle this case. Before any insurance company will settle any case, a doctor will have to prove that the injuries were caused by the defendant’s negligence.

Lots of Money Involved

If there is a lot of money involved with the case, then it will take a long time to settle. Insurers usually do not want to pay any money, but they definitely do not want to make large settlements. Therefore, they will make sure that they have truly examined every aspect of the case before making a large settlement. The insurer will not settle until they have done the following things. First, they will make sure that there is no way that they can defend the case. If they feel that they have any way of defending the case, then they will not settle for a large settlement. Second, the insurers will have to make sure that the injuries are as severe as stated. The insurers may make you visit their recommended doctors; therefore, they will feel that they are not being slighted when it comes to determining injuries. Third, the insurers will make sure that they cannot attack your credibility. The insurers will do everything to prove that you are not injured and that you simply want to get money. Additionally, many insurers will delay the settlement in an effort to get you to give up and settle for less money. Many people need the insurance money as soon as possible; therefore, the insurance companies will wait as long as possible before giving you a large sum of money.

Have not Recovered from Injuries

A final reason in which a case may take a long time to settle is that you are still recovering from your injuries. If at all possible, you will never want to settle a case if you are still recovering from your injuries. There is always a possibility that you may never recover from your injuries, and if you have settled, then you will not be able to get additional compensation from the insurance company. Many attorneys call this the point of maximum medical improvement. When you reach this point, it means that you have recovered as much as you possibly will.

Dealing with insurance companies can be difficult, and in most cases, you need your money as soon as possible. However, it is important to remember that your case could be worth a lot more if you choose to wait until the insurance company is willing to settle for a larger settlement. In some cases, an insurance company will only offer a fraction of what it may offer at trial. If you are injured during any type of accident, you should speak with a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible. Therefore, you will not have to face the insurance companies alone.