One of the first questions new clients ask is how long their personal injury case will take to settle. Unfortunately, there is no easy answer to this question. Some personal injury lawsuits will take a mere months to settle, while others may drag on for years. The more complicated the accident and injuries are, the longer it can take to reach an appropriate settlement.
It Takes Time to Fully Understand all Long Term Medical Issues
Before you reach a settlement with the at-fault driver’s insurance company, it is important to be sure that you have been adequately treated for your injuries and are on the road to recovery. It is also important that you receive a long-term diagnosis of your injury, so your attorney can be sure to take long-term expenses into consideration. If your injury resulted in a disability, we will need to be sure we account for any and all costs associated with your disability. If your injury is permanent, you will need money for medical care, long-term care, and even loss of future earnings.
Insurance companies are not usually cooperative, however, and they can drag out lawsuits unnecessarily. If your case does go to trial, you can expect litigation to take anywhere from 2-5 years, especially when large sums of money are being considered.
What About my Legal and Medical Expenses?
We know that during this time, it can be difficult to pay medical expenses and attorney’s fees. That’s why we work on a contingency basis. This means if we do not recover anything for you, you do not pay. This allows you to focus your time and your energy on recovering from your injuries. We can only directly alleviate the strain of attorneys fees but their are also multiple options to help you pay your medical expenses while awaiting your settlement, so be sure to talk to your lawyer to make sure that you are making the best choice.
Don’t Rush It
It is important not to rush personal injury settlements, because once a settlement is reached, you cannot go back and reopen the case. Your attorney will help advise you of all your legal options, so you can obtain the maximum compensation for your injuries and for any future pain you will now endure.
Contact Seattle Car Accident Attorneys
If a negligent driver injures you or someone you love, an experienced Seattle car accident attorney at Phillips Law Firm can help. If you are interested in learning more about your legal options, call us at 1-800-708-6000. Our Seattle attorneys are waiting to assist you 24/7, offering a free case evaluation. Remember our no fee promise. If we do not recover anything for you, you do not owe us an attorney fee.
The personal injury lawyers at Phillips Law Firm have successfully represented injured individuals and their families in Seattle, Tacoma, Vancouver, Bellevue, Everett, Kent, Auburn, Renton, Federal Way, Bellingham, Marysville, Lakewood, Redmond, Shoreline, and throughout the State of Washington.