How Long Will my Personal Injury Claim Take to Resolve?
There is no good answer to this question. Many injured victims want to know how long it will be until they receive their compensation, but the truth is that there is no guarantee they will receive compensation at all and if they do receive it, it can be very difficult to predict how long it will take for the claim to be resolved.
Generally, personal injury claims take a few months to one year to resolve. Some can be settled more quickly and others take longer to resolve because of complicating factors.
Factors that Can Affect How Long It Takes to Reach a Resolution
More straightforward claims are generally resolved quicker. These are the claims where it is clear that the insured party was negligent and the victim’s injury is an uncomplicated one with a clear recovery time line.
When a claim needs to be investigated thoroughly to determine who was truly at fault and how much fault they hold, it can take longer to resolve. Other issues that can prolong a claim’s resolution include:
- The claim is for a substantial amount of damages;
- The victim suffered a permanent disability, severe injury, or died;
- Negligence cannot easily be proven; and
- The victim has not yet reached his or her maximum recovery and his or her prognosis is not yet clear.
If you File a Lawsuit, It Can Take Longer
Many, many personal injury claims are settled before filing a lawsuit becomes necessary. This is because when a case goes to court, it becomes far more stressful and expensive for all parties involved. Keep Florida’s statute of limitations for personal injury claims, four years from the date of your injury, in mind if you are considering filing a lawsuit to pursue your claim. Once four years pass, you can no longer bring your case before the court.
If you reach a point with your case where litigation is the only option, your case will take longer to resolve because with a lawsuit, you are essentially starting from the beginning. You and the other party involved will also have to go through all the motions associated with a lawsuit, such as the discovery process, developing your arguments, and waiting for the jury to reach a verdict. This can take weeks, months, or even longer. By this point, it is not uncommon for a victim to be more than one year past his or her initial accident.
Work with Draper Law Office to Pursue your Personal Injury Claim
Your lawyer cannot predict how long your claim will take to resolve, but he or she can make an estimate based on its circumstances and make an effort to resolve the case as quickly as possible. Call 866-767-4711 or visit Draper Law Office online today to set up your free, no-obligation consultation in one of our two offices: Kissimmee, and Orlando.
