When a person sustains an injury caused by the negligent or intentional actions of another party, this could lead to a personal injury claim. However, these cases can be complicated, and it can take some time for an injury claim to settle. Here, we want to delve into the different timeframes involved for personal injury insurance settlements or resolutions through a personal injury civil lawsuit.
Settling With the Insurance Carrier
The vast majority of personal injury claims in Philadelphia are resolved through settlements with insurance carriers. Handling a claim through insurance carriers typically takes less time and costs less money than having to go all the way through the personal injury civil lawsuit process. Typically, straightforward insurance claims can be resolved within a few weeks or months after the injury incident occurs.
However, not all injury claims are straightforward. It is not uncommon for insurance carriers to push back against injury victims, and this can lead to a claim delay or denial. If an insurance carrier refuses to offer a fair settlement or denies the claim, Philadelphia personal injury victims may need to file a lawsuit in order to recover compensation.
If You Have to File a Lawsuit
When a person has to file a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault party, this moves the claim into the civil court system. Unfortunately, this also means that it will likely take more time to resolve than an insurance settlement.
After a lawsuit is filed, this opens the discovery process, which is when the legal teams for the injury victim (the plaintiff) and the alleged negligent party (the defendant) will exchange information with one another, seek and interview witnesses, and continue their overall investigation. Depending on the evidence that is obtained and turned over, both sides may agree to a settlement before it becomes necessary to move the case to a jury trial. However, if a settlement cannot be reached, a jury trial may be necessary.
The total time frame for how long it takes a civil personal injury lawsuit to resolve in Philadelphia can vary anywhere from a few months to a few years, depending on the complexity of the case and how crowded the court docket is.
Contact an Attorney for Help
If you or somebody you care about has sustained an injury caused by the actions of another individual or entity in Pennsylvania, you need to reach out to an attorney as soon as possible. A Philadelphia personal injury lawyer will investigate your case, obtain the evidence needed to prove liability, and work diligently to recover full compensation for your losses. This includes recovering compensation for all medical expenses, lost income, property damage expenses, as well as pain and suffering damages.
If you are concerned about how long it may take to recover compensation, we encourage you to have this conversation with your attorney. A lawyer with experience handling these claims will be able to walk you through the process and explain how long it will likely take your case to resolve.