Over three million Americans are injured in car accidents on U.S. roads. Two million of these are permanent injuries that alter the quality of life of the victims. Most people consulting Southern California personal injury attorneys often inquire how long it would take to settle their personal injury cases.
Some wrongfully believe that hiring a car accident attorney will prolong their cases. Before you accept the quick settlement offer from the insurance company, you may need to consider the long-term impacts of the decision. Is it settling a personal injury claim quickly or shorting you from fair compensation?
Unfortunately, it is close to impossible to know exactly how long it will take to settle your claim. Every personal injury case is unique in regards to the specific facts relating to the accident. The client’s health outcome after getting hurt in an accident may also be different. Settlement may take anywhere from two weeks to several years.
A whole 96% of personal injury claims are settled before the case gets before a judge or jury. Settlement negotiations begin early and remain ‘open’ until the case is closed.
To avoid expensive lawsuits, the parties may participate in alternative dispute resolution processes such as mediation which can also be time-consuming.
When victims handle the cases without Southern California personal injury attorneys, they often settle before their treatment is complete. Consequently, they may not receive the compensation that they could be entitled to. Here are some factors that could affect the time taken to settle your case.
Your first step after an accident should get the medical care you require. Once you recover, your physician and personal injury attorney may have a better idea of how the injuries sustain may impact your life. Serious injuries may take a while to recuperate from. It can be risky to settle before you achieve maximum medical improvement.
Insurance companies analyze the facts of any case before deciding the compensation to give. If the insurance deems the facts of the case as weak, they may offer a tiny settlement or deny the claim altogether. Investigations by Southern California personal injury attorneys to build your case can take time. Your lawyers may have to obtain your medical bills, treatment notes, police reports, witness interviews, accident reconstruction reports, employment information, maximum recovery parameters among others.
It may be impossible to accurately predict how long it will take to settle your claim. Hiring Southern California personal injury attorneys can increase your odds of receiving fair compensation for your injuries, no matter the time it takes. To schedule an appointment with a car accident lawyer, reach out to The Law Offices of Steven Zwick.