Louisiana’ premier
personal injury lawyer
Posted in Our Blog on January 15, 2019
An accident or serious injury can become a monumental financial burden for victims and their families. If an accident has harmed you or someone you love, and you believe another party is responsible, you may be able to file a claim for damages. The civil justice system plays an important role in helping victims of negligence gain compensation for their material and immaterial losses. Contact the Law Office of John W. Redmann, LLC today for a free case evaluation.
The Law Office of John W. Redmann, LLC is unmatched in southeastern Louisiana personal injury law.
One of the most common questions our firm receives is “how does long it take to settle my claim?” The answer is unique to the individual, but personal injury claims follow a predictable process that can give families a general idea of when they can expect to receive compensation for their injuries, should they be successful. Several factors may affect the expedience and timeline of a personal injury claim.
Victims of an accident might want to settle a matter quickly to receive the financial means to live. Within the first few weeks of an accident or claims process, an insurer will typically make a low-ball offer. Victims willing to take the low-ball offer can settle the claim quickly, but the offer will not fairly compensate for tangible and intangible losses. Victims should see this as a jumping off point for negotiations, not a resolution to the case.
An attorney can negotiate on a victim’s behalf and demand fair compensation for the full extent of a victim’s losses. In fact, having an attorney involved can help expedite the process, as it makes an insurer take a claim more seriously.
It is sometimes beneficial to wait for the full value of a claim to manifest. Insurers call it a state of maximum medical improvement. In the event of a serious accident, it can take months to reach maximum medical improvement. The best possible settlement from an insurance company may take a few months after reaching maximum medical improvement, as it will consider the entirety of medical bills, lost income, and the projected cost of future care, if applicable.
In some cases, an attorney will not be able to elicit a fair settlement from the insurer. The next step is to file a claim in court and demand compensation in front of a jury. When a case goes to trial, it typically takes longer to gain compensation than it would from a settlement. The process of filing a suit to completing a trial can take several months.
The type of accident, insurers involved, injuries that a victim experiences, and amount of other damages all might affect a claim. Additionally, if a defendant faces criminal charges, this could also affect the resolution of the civil trial.
The time it takes to resolve a personal injury case will ultimately depend on the individual, as each case is unique and depends on a combination of the factors listed above. However, the more time a victim allows for negotiations for a case to progress, the more likely it is for a settlement to reflect the amount of tangible and intangible losses a plaintiff truly incurs. On the other hand, timely action is necessary to prevent the expiration of the statute of limitations. The attorneys at the Law Office of John W. Redmann, LLC can help you explore all the legal options in a free case evaluation. Schedule yours today.