How Long Does It Take to Get a Personal Injury Settlement?

From the cost of medical treatment to the loss of missed work, even minor injuries can lead to considerable expenses. Often, getting personal injury compensation quickly is essential for paying your medical bills and covering the cost of recovery. The problem is that the personal injury timeline isn’t always short.

If you’ve been injured due to someone else’s actions or negligence, keep reading to learn how long you can expect to wait before seeing your first personal injury settlement check.

The Personal Injury Claims Process

The first step to understanding how long the personal injury lawsuit process takes is understanding the usual path that such a case might take. All personal injury cases are unique, and they won’t all need to follow all the steps below to achieve a resolution. Still, if you have a personal injury claim, you can expect to follow some or all of the steps below:

Filing an Insurance Claim – The first step for most injury victims will be filing a claim with an insurance company.
Filing an Appeal – If your insurance claim is denied, you can file an appeal.
Sending a Demand Letter – If your appeal is rejected, you can send a demand letter laying out your requests with help from an experienced personal injury lawyer.
Filing a Personal Injury Lawsuit – If the insurance company or at-fault party rejects your demands, you can file an injury lawsuit.
Settlement Negotiations – Your personal injury attorney can negotiate on your behalf to reach a favorable conclusion.
Court Trial – If no settlement agreement can be reached, the case may go to trial, but this is incredibly rare.
Agreeing to a Settlement – Unless you drop the claim, at some point during the process, a settlement agreement will be reached and signed.

How Long Does It Take to Get Personal Injury Compensation?

So, how long does it take to get a personal injury settlement? Unfortunately, there isn’t a simple answer. If you are able to make a successful insurance claim, you can expect to wait around two months before receiving any compensation. Making an insurance claim appeal can take an additional two months. Preparing and sending a demand letter can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks, and it will also take time for the insurance company to respond. After you file a lawsuit, you can expect to wait at least a year before a settlement is reached, with many cases taking several years to complete.

Factors That Can Affect the Length of Your Personal Injury Case

As you can see, the timeline for getting relief can vary widely between personal injury lawsuits, and each case will follow a slightly different path to completion. If you’re trying to get a sense of how long your settlement will take, it’s worth considering the things that can make the process longer:

Complicated Fault – If it’s unclear who is responsible for your injury, it will take time to build a strong case, and negotiations can be more difficult.
Lack of Representation – Failing to get help from an experienced personal injury attorney can make your case take longer.
Major Commercial Concerns – If your claim involves a large commercial entity, you can expect to face a difficult path to relief.
Lack of Evidence – Without robust evidence in support of your claim, creating a strong case will be challenging.
Complicating Factors – Any factors that can add to the complexity of your case in any way may result in a longer wait before a settlement is reached.

When you need personal injury relief quickly, choosing the right personal injury law firm is essential. Look for personal injury attorneys who will put your needs first.

After I’ve Reached a Settlement, When Will I Get Compensation?

Personal injury settlements take time, and your wait won’t end when the agreement is signed. After reaching an agreement, you will then need to wait for your payout. In general, you can expect to receive your first personal injury settlement check in about six weeks. However, like all other parts of the process, the amount of time that it takes to get your check can be affected by the specifics of your case and your personal circumstances.

How Long Do I Have to Make a Personal Injury Claim?

In every state, there is a limit on how long you have to file a personal injury claim after an accident. In Texas, for most personal injury cases, you will have two years from the point of the accident in which to make a claim. However, if the injured party was a minor at the time of the accident, then you may have until their 20th birthday to file a personal injury suit on their behalf. The best way to determine how long you have to file is to talk to a personal injury attorney.

What Can I Do to Get Personal Injury Compensation Sooner?

If you need a personal injury settlement, there are steps you can take to make that injury settlement come sooner. Follow the tips below to limit the length of your case:

Stay Organized – Keep medical records, bills, and all other documentation organized and together.
Get an Attorney – Getting help from a personal injury lawyer is the best way to streamline your case.
Be Attentive – Stay informed about your case and its current status to ensure progress is being made.

Unfortunately, there are far more things outside of your control that can lengthen your case than there are things you can do to shorten it. You also shouldn’t attempt to rush the process as that can lead to mistakes. The best thing to do is talk to an attorney to get a better idea of what to expect.

Get Personal Injury Compensation with Help from The Lopez Law Group

When it comes to personal injury cases, efficiency matters. Here at The Lopez Law Group, we are committed to helping our clients get full and fair compensation as quickly as possible.

If you have a personal injury case, you don’t have to face the legal system on your own. Get help from the experienced personal injury lawyers here at The Lopez Law Group.