How Long Does a Lawsuit Take To Settle?

Factors That Affect the Duration of Lawsuit Settlements

Some of the factors that could affect the settlement of your personal injury case include the following:

The Complexity of the Case

A complex personal injury case, such as a case involving multiple parties, would likely take longer to resolve than cases where only two parties are involved. This is because it is more difficult to determine who is at fault and establish liability in such cases.

Sometimes because of the complexities involved, it may be better to allow a judge and jury to unravel the facts and reach a decision on the case to ensure everyone is treated fairly. Consult a personal injury attorney to determine if this approach would benefit your case or whether a settlement offers you a better chance of success.

The Severity of the Injuries

The extent of your injuries could also affect the settlement process. If you suffer severe injuries that require extensive medical treatment, you need to ensure that the settlement is enough to cover the costs of such treatments.

This also applies if your injuries have resulted in a temporary or permanent disability that could affect your ability or capacity to work. You’ll need to ensure that your settlement takes your medical bills and lost past/future wages into account.

To get a fair settlement in such cases, you may need to consult extensively with your doctors so they can properly assess your injuries or the extent of your disabilities, the type of treatment you need, the cost, and your chances of making a complete recovery.

The medical consultation process could take a lot of time which could further prolong the settlement process. But it’s not a step you’ll want to bypass because its outcome can help to solidify your personal injury claim.

The Willingness of the Parties

Settlement negotiations only work when all the parties involved are committed to resolving the dispute out of court. An unwilling party may delay the settlement by refusing to agree on critical issues. Unless such a party comes around, the settlement process will likely fail, and the case must proceed to trial.

Whether the Parties Have Legal Representation

The settlement process could take less time to conclude if both parties are represented by personal injury attorneys. With their legal training, experienced personal injury attorneys understand how to isolate crucial issues from the available facts. Even if tensions get high, they can help the parties focus on the necessary issues to help them reach a decision.

Personal injury lawyers are often skilled negotiators, and their primary goal is to represent their client’s interests and ensure the settlement benefits them. Going through the settlement process without an attorney could put you at a disadvantage, especially when the opposing party is represented by one. As such, it is important that you get an experienced personal injury lawyer from a reputable law firm to negotiate on your behalf and help you obtain a satisfactory settlement where possible.