Tripping victims need to know how much compensation they can get after filing their claims and how long it will take to receive it. Unfortunately, there isn’t one answer that can fit all cases because of many factors that can affect the litigation process. It can take months to years to settle a case. The duration the case takes before being resolved depends on the specific circumstances present in the case. You should reach out to a lawyer who is very knowledgeable in dealing with slip and fall settlement cases to get an estimate of how long it will take depending on the specific details of your claim.
Many claims take a long time because of the steps that are taken to ensure victims get fair compensation. Knowing about the factors that can affect the length of time to resolve the claim will help you get prepared. Some factors that will determine how long your Slip and Fall Settlement case may take to be resolved include:
Getting medical treatment- Slip and Fall Settlement
Your attorney will want you to get the maximum compensation possible and will advise you to complete treatment in hospital before concluding the compensation process. This will allow the attorney to include all of your medical bills, both present and future ones, in your compensation amount. Unfortunately, sometimes it may take a long time before the doctor realises that one form of treatment, like physical therapy for example, is not working for you and that you should instead be operated on.
Having issues with Insurance company
In many situations, the insurance company will try to either deny your claim or reduce the amount, even when it is obvious that the property owner is liable. They do this to ensure they pay less than what is needed. Depending on how reasonable the adjuster is, you may spend months negotiating for a better compensation amount for you.
Pre-existing wounds
If you had sustained injuries in the past on the body part that was injured during your recent incident, it may be difficult to convince people that the previous injury did not cause the second one. The insurance adjuster will argue that the past injury caused the current one. Trying to prove him or her wrong is very time-consuming.
Negotiations
Negotiations for the compensation amount usually involve insurance companies. The insurance adjuster usually does not agree to the initial amount you are demanding. You will need to haggle over the price for a bit before reaching a fair amount for every party involved. This lengthens the whole process.
Serious injuries
The more serious the injuries sustained in your accident, the more the compensation amount you will receive. For instance, if you have developed chronic pain or became disabled, the value of the claim will definitely be higher. This means the insurance company will try their best to deny your claim or discredit you. This may increase the duration the whole case will take.
Litigation
Sometimes, the insurance company may completely refuse to agree to an amount that seems too high for them.
Time you file claims
When you file your complaint early, the court will also schedule closer deadlines and hearings. This sets the motion on the time the negligent party can respond. After filing it, your patience will be put to the test. If you want to finish the litigation process earlier and get it over and done, it can be done quickly. However, if you want to wait longer to get more money, it will take longer.
Complexity of your case
A simple tripping incident is simple, whereas something like medical malpractice is more complex. Moreover, a case where the damages are $1000 will be completed and resolved quicker than a case with $1 million in damages.
Severity of injuries
A case where the victim has a sprained ankle can be completed quicker than one where the victim died or has brain damage. Additionally, the caseload in your jurisdiction will also affect the duration it takes to resolve the claim. After filing a lawsuit, you will be at the mercy of the court when it comes to court dates. Court dates may change up to the last minute.
Other things that can determine the length of your case are: the entity you are filing a claim against, the volume of evidence that has to be examined, the investigations, the time the court will take to review the provided evidence and the specific guidelines and laws related to your case.
Conclusion
If you need to know the period it will take to resolve your case, you should reach out to an experienced attorney who can estimate the time depending on your specific case details. The lawyer will look at the severity of injuries, the complexity of your case and the compensation amount among other factors to determine the time your case will take to be resolved.
