As personal injury attorneys, hands down the most frequent question we hear is, “How long do you think it will take to settle my personal injury claim?”
Although a valid question, unfortunately there is no way to clearly answer it. There are many variables, both known and unknown, that will affect the duration of a personal injury claim. Every single case is different and unique; therefore there isn’t a one size fits all answer.
This is the honest response and we always let our clients know this. Be aware that if a law firm swears to settle your case in a specific amount of time, they may be making promises they are unable to keep. We like to be up front with our clients right off the bat and even though we may not be able to give you an exact date and time, we will fight tenaciously to help you resolve your claim as soon as possible depending on your individual case.
The first question to ask yourself is if you are willing to take a quick, potentially low-ball settlement? Or are you willing to get proper care and treatment under the supervision and guidance of a professional law firm, equipped to handle even the most complex personal injury situations?
A “quick settlement” is typically most beneficial to the insurance company. Insurance adjusters are notorious for attempting to expedite the process regardless of your treatment status because this tactic will lower the cost for them. They may bully you at your expense when you are hurt, confused and overwhelmed for the sake of their best interest.
For example, a soft tissue injury can be unpredictable. The injuries you sustain may appear immediately but there might be complications down the road and this could require long term treatment. But once you settle, you’re stuck with the medical bills if you’re not 100% and finished with your treatment plan.
A quick settlement, without the help of an experienced law firm, may not get you the compensation you are entitled to receiving. Policy limits are the maximum amount available on an insurance policy and there may be more than one policy accessible to you. This information is something that we can help you navigate through because it can be very complex. A quick settlement may leave a significant amount of medical help and money left on the table.
If you’ve decided to get the best medical help and the highest settlement offer, then you will bring a highly skilled and qualified attorney from Schulze Law on board with you. Once you hire an attorney it’s a major game changer. Interestingly, insurance company’s tactics will radically change. Although hiring an attorney may not speed up the process, the results will dramatically improve.
Ironically, once an insurance company is notified that you are now being legally represented, they may attempt to prolong the process as opposed to trying to get you to settle as soon as possible. The reasoning behind this is because they want to make you tired and frustrated and ultimately make you want to give up. When Schulze Law is representing you, the insurance company knows there is potentially more money on the line because we are experienced in getting you the best medical treatment and highest compensation obtainable.
For 20 years, we have specialized in going to bat for each of our clients by being dedicated and working diligently on each case. We are ardent supporters and advocate for each and every one of our clients. We know that there are no cases exactly alike and we will work to resolve your case as quickly as we can without compromising your care or compensation. But, it is impossible to estimate the length of your claim from start to finish. You can rest assured, we have the strategies to get you the settlement and treatment you deserve.
Once you hire us, the following variables will greatly impact your claim. Please take into consideration these factors when you’ve been involved in a personal injury. This will give you reasonable expectations and allow you to focus on recovery and healing.
- Treatment:
This is the most important element in both recovering from your injures and the value of your case. No one can predict how long it will take you to reach your maximum level of physical and mental recovery or for the doctor and/or specialists to release you from their care. Medical issues may surface that were not immediately detectable. As a general rule, you should continue to treat, without “gaps” or breaks, as long as you are injured. By working with your doctors and attorneys, we can guide you in this process and make decisions unique to your circumstances along the way.
- Collecting Medical Records and Bills:
The documentation of your treatment is vital in your claim and in the resolution of your case. We have an intelligent and intrepid team that works to collect your complete medical records and bills. Personal injuries are negotiated and settled mainly on evidence that is composed of the data in these records. The process of requesting, receiving and compiling takes time. In fact, once a medical bill or record is requested from a medical facility, legally they have 30 days to respond. Being realistic regarding the speed that various medical providers and billing agencies answer our inquires will help you understand the length of the process.
- Demand Packages and Settlements:
The demand package is a detailed report composed of all medical records, medical bills, documents and a monetary request that is compiled by Schulze Law. It clearly and accurately describes your claim and is often very large. Once it is sent to an insurance company to review, it may take time for them to properly review the package and respond due to the extensive amount of information. We stay in contact with the insurance agency and negotiate as necessary to come to agreement that is accepted by all parties involved. After a settlement has been reached, we work as fast as possible to get the insurance company to issue a check and we can then disperse the funds. Keep in mind that there are factors that can hold up the payment process but we work quickly for you, the client.
We would be honored to represent you and promise to zealously pursue the justice you deserve. We have a solid track record of giving personalized, detailed care to our clients. We provide strong representation for our clients and seek justice aggressively at every turn, resulting in settlement that your case deserves.
We promise to put our clients first and take the pressure out of the complexity of the legal process. We recognize that every case is different. It may take a month, or even years to reach the end of your claim, but we will always have your best interest in mind and work as persistently and carefully as possible.
Someone’s case may take longer than yours and vice versa. We will keep you informed of the status of your claim and get a successful result in both treatment and compensation.
CALL NOW: 857-300-5300 Emergency After Hours Number: 800-894-9267 XLAW1 (5291)
