Lawsuits are settled in the time it takes to investigate them and bring them to their natural conclusion. That being said, it is important to not miss anything when bringing a lawsuit to light. A personal injury lawsuit has many parts that need to be reviewed before the settlement can take place. It is important not to rush this process and to wait for all of the pieces to fall into place. Nothing will be gained for rushing towards a settlement. More than likely, by rushing something important will be left out, never to be considered again.
When Should I Call an Attorney?
You should call an attorney as soon as you have been injured in an accident or a car crash. This is because you will no doubt hear from the insurance company of the at-fault party. There are some protocols that you need to follow when dealing with the other person’s insurance company. By talking to an attorney, you will not be giving away the chance at a larger settlement, as the attorney will tell you what you need to know.
It will be to your advantage to work with an attorney at every stage of your lawsuit. This is because a legal representative will always be working with your best interest in mind. The insurance companies are working for their best interest. The only way to balance the scales in your favor during settlements is to work with an injury and accident attorney who knows how to negotiate full settlements for you.
What Personal Injuries Were Sustained in the Accident?
Before you will have an opportunity to settle your claim, you will need to submit the personal injuries that were sustained in the accident to the insurance company for review. The insurance company will investigate the claim. The insurance company will also review the gathered medical bills, expenses, and other paperwork gathered to determine the total amount of expenses claimed for the loss. They will review this total figure of money claimed and square it against their reserves for this loss. If they can settle the claim under the amount reserved to do so, all the better for them.
Types of Personal Injury Claims
The general types of personal injury claim that arises as the result of an accident are as follows:
- Auto accidents
- Slip, trip, and falls
- Work-related injuries
- Customer injures at a shop or store
- Dog bites or attacks by an animal
- Defective products
- Medical errors by doctors or nurses
- Other types of cases
Once the personal injury has been identified, it will need to be proved by the person claiming it. Personal injuries can be simple or complex and may include more than one of these, such as:
- Whiplash
- Neck injuries
- Spinal cord
- Back injury
- Knee, ankle, and leg injuries
- Fractures
- Lacerations and cuts
- Soft tissue injuries
- Dog bites
- Dog attacks
- Bruises and contusions
- Internal organ failure
- Internal bleeding
- Brain injuries
- Cuts and scrapes
What to Do After an Accident with Personal Injuries
If you have been in an accident, you may have received EMT help at the scene of the accident. If you have not been checked out by a healthcare provider, you may want to do that in the days following an accident. Many people who refuse care at the scene of an accident regret it. That is because some injuries don’t manifest themselves until several days later. You may have sustained a bruise, ignored it thinking that you were fine, only to find out a few days later that the sprain you thought you had was a bone fracture. It is important to always be checked over for internal injuries or fractures after an accident such as a car crash or slip and fall.
One Week Settlements
Settlements can be made rather quickly, if the injuries are minor. If there is a car accident that is minor, and the personal injuries are only bumps and scrapes, this claim could be settled quickly. For example, in a slip and fall accident where the person who fell had a cut over the eye, the claim can be settled in one week. If the individual only received a few stitches, and the scar was not visible upon healing, this claim will easily be reviewed and settled in about a week or week and a half’s timeframe.
One Month Settlements
It may take longer to settle a claim if the injuries are significant. If you have an injury and the settlement comes to an end in around one month, that settlement will have reviewed a moderate injury. If the injury is cut and dried to the extent that there will more than likely not be any additional disability claimed for the future, it is appropriate to settle this one in around one month.
Remember that any settlement that you make is a full and final settlement. You will not have the chance to go back in and settle for more at a later date. You need the expert advice of an attorney at these stages to help you to settle for the full amount that is due to you.
Several Month Settlements
Permanent disabilities may need longer to settle. If a moderate injury turns into a permanent disability, it will take longer to settle out for you. When you settle a claim, you want to know that your reimbursement package will provide for your care for years to come. You would actually not want that settlement to be rushed, and forget any critical aspects of the settlement package. In that case, it is appropriate that the settlement take several months. In that time, the medical documents need to be gathered and certified, and any expert opinion from doctors needs to be reviewed regarding your diagnosis.
If you have had to go to physical therapy, you will be in a better position to know the seriousness of your injury if you have waited to settle the claim. Many times, people after several months can get a better idea of their disability, whether it is permanent or temporary, and what services that they will need in the future.
One Year Settlements
If there are compound injuries or new surgeries that need to be scheduled, these settlements may take longer than a few months. It will be unusual that the settlement will take a year to settle, but it can happen. If a settlement takes longer than a few months, it may be because the person injured may need to have emergency surgeries, or has other complications that are added to the original injury. In either case, it is critical that you talk to an attorney at these times. You do not want to have anything be forgotten or not added at the last minute, especially with a disability that is life-changing and permanent.
Call the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm
If you are wondering how much time will be needed to settle a personal injury claim, you can just give us a call for the best answer. If you have been the victim of a personal injury in any circumstance, just give us a call. We will work hard to get you the compensation that you deserve in every case. If you have been in an accident and have a claim for personal injuries, you need to give us a call. Just call us at (470) 323-8779. We look forward to hearing from you today.
