What Is the Average Time to Settle a Personal Injury Case?

It is normal to feel impatient about settling your personal injury case. Your accident may have caused expensive property damage and medical bills, as well as the inability to work. You may not wish to wait several months or longer to resolve your case. It may not be in your best interest, however, to rush into a fast settlement that does not adequately pay for your losses. Learn more about how long it may take to successfully settle your case.

How Long Do Most Cases Take to Settle?

It is difficult to determine how long your personal injury case will take based on average settlement timelines. Every client is unique, with timelines varying significantly on a case-by-case basis. How long it takes one client’s case to settle may not be an accurate indication of how long your case will take. In general, however, a personal injury insurance claim may take around three to four months. This is the average timeline if the insurance claim does not encounter any issues or complications that delay the process. Insurance companies in Texas have 15 days to respond to a claim filed. Then, they have 15 days from the time they receive all forms and information from you to accept or reject the claim. If your personal injury case requires a trial, expect a longer claims process. Although this is uncommon, some cases require trials if the insurance company is wrongfully denying payment or refusing to offer a reasonable settlement. If your case goes to trial in Texas, anticipate your settlement taking one year or longer to achieve.

Factors That Could Extend Your Timeline

Average personal injury settlement times are not typically accurate when seeking information about how long a case may take to resolve. The best way to obtain an accurate timeline is by consulting with a personal injury lawyer in Dallas. A lawyer will look at the unique factors of your case to determine if there are things that could cause delays. Factors that may impact how long it takes to settle include:

• The severity of your injuries
• How long it will take to reach your point of maximum medical improvement
• The overall value of your claim
• Problems or challenges with your case
• Multiple defendants
• Your comparative fault for the injury
• Insurance bad-faith tactics, such as unfairly delaying an investigation

On average, a personal injury case with complications such as catastrophic injuries, a long recovery time, high-value losses or a liability dispute will take longer than a simpler case to settle. It is important, however, to recognize when a delay in the settlement could ultimately benefit you by providing a better payout for your injuries and losses.

Do Not Rush Into a Settlement

One of the most common mistakes made by injured parties in Texas is to rush the claims process. It is common to want to settle as quickly as possible so you can move forward with your life. Rushing into a settlement that does not adequately pay for your past and future losses, however, is something you cannot take back. It is typically not possible to reopen a closed case, even if you discover that you need additional medical treatments. Insurance companies expect clients to negotiate back and forth with them before settling, not accept the very first offer. Thus, the first offer is typically lower than the true value of the claim. Rather than accepting the very first settlement offer in an attempt to quickly resolve your case, take it to a personal injury lawyer for review. A lawyer can analyze the facts of your case, give a professional opinion on whether or not you should settle, and help you with negotiations – all while making the legal process as fast and efficient as possible.