If you have been injured in an accident and are considering filing a personal injury claim, one of the most common questions you may have is how long the process will take. Unfortunately, there is no conclusive answer to this question.
The time it takes to settle a personal injury claim can vary widely depending on several factors. You may be looking at several weeks, months or even years before your claim is settled. Below are some factors that may have a hand in the time it will take to settle your claim.
The severity of your injuries
Your claim may be resolved relatively quickly if you suffer only minor injuries, such as cuts and bruises. However, the process can take much longer for injuries that require ongoing medical treatment, surgery or rehabilitation.
The complexity of your claim
Accidents involving multiple liable parties where the facts of the case are unclear can complicate the settlement process. Reviewing the evidence in such claims and ascertaining each party’s degree of fault may considerably stretch the time it takes to settle your claim.
The insurer’s claims procedure
When you file a claim with the at-fault party’s insurance company, you must go through its claims procedure. The efficiency of the insurer’s internal processes could determine the time it takes to settle your claim. Additionally, bad faith practices like delaying investigations may also extend the timeline.
Other factors that may affect the time it takes to get compensation are if your claim heads to court and the level of cooperation among the parties involved.
Protect your rights and interests after an accident
In conclusion, you cannot precisely predict the time it will take to settle your claim, given that some of these factors are out of your hands. Therefore, it is best to have informed legal representation and guidance on what you can do to receive a deserving settlement for your damages without enduring unnecessary delays.