If you were injured through no fault of your own, you may be facing steep costs that were entirely unanticipated. Copays for doctor’s visits, prescription medication, and the loss of income can add up to a substantial loss within a matter of weeks.
Unfortunately, there’s no way to determine with 100 percent certainty how long it might take to resolve your personal injury claim. Depending on the circumstances, you could end up facing a dispute and having to file a lawsuit and enter litigation, which of course would draw out the proceedings.
A resourceful personal injury attorney can take the necessary steps to avoid unnecessary complications and disputes. This involves gathering all available evidence of liability, causation, and damages and using proven settlement negotiation tactics.
No matter how strong your claim seems, however, there’s no way to guarantee that the opposing party will cooperate. Below are just a few factors that could influence the amount of time it takes to resolve your case:
- The Severity of Your Injuries: Until you’ve reached maximum medical improvement (MMI), it can be difficult to arrive at an accurate estimate for the total cost of healthcare. As such, cases that involve catastrophic injuries may take longer to resolve than those that involve minor, temporary wounds. If you sustained a traumatic brain injury, for example, doctors may want to wait at least six months before diagnosing any permanent damage. Your lawyer may advise putting off the settlement negotiations until you’ve reached MMI.
- Whether Multiple Defendants Share Fault: If two or more parties were liable for the accident that caused your injuries, a dispute might arise over how fault is apportioned. If just one party disagrees on the percentage of fault assigned or any other aspect of the claim, the case might proceed to litigation.
- Whether You Played a Role in the Incident: If you were partially responsible for the accident, the insurance adjuster may try to deny your claim or reduce its value. If the adjuster is unreasonable, your personal injury attorney might suggest filing a lawsuit and proceeding to litigation.
- The Total Compensation You Are Seeking: High-value cases sometimes take longer to resolve because the insurer has more incentive to investigate and dispute the claim.
- Other Aggravating Factors: There are many other reasons why a dispute might arise that leads to litigation. This may happen, for example, if you fail to mitigate your damages, provide a recorded statement to the insurer, or discuss your case on social media.
Call 716-855-3761 to Speak with a New York Personal Injury Attorney
If you want to file a personal injury claim in New York, contact LoTempio P.C. Law Group. Our attorneys have more than 200 years of combined experience in the legal field.
By letting us handle the logistics of your case, you can focus on more important matters such as rehabilitating your injuries and taking care of your family. Call 716-855-3761 or fill out our Contact Form to schedule a free consultation with a personal injury lawyer in New York.