How Long Does It Take to Resolve a Personal Injury Case?

One of the most popular questions we get asked by clients is, “how long will my personal injury case take?” Our clients are struggling with injuries and bills. Therefore, the prospect of a claim or lawsuit hanging over their heads for an untold amount of time is intimidating and discouraging.

If you have decided to pursue a personal injury case and want to know how long this type of case takes to resolve, you need to understand that every case is different. Ultimately, how long your personal injury case will take to settle will primarily depend on your case’s circumstances.

Yet there is an average time frame for resolving these cases that we will discuss in our article. So, keep reading to learn everything you can about resolving personal injury cases in Ohio.

How Long Will My Personal Injury Case Last?

As we mentioned earlier, how long it takes to resolve your personal injury case will depend on the factors and circumstances of your lawsuit. However, in our experience, the average personal injury case will take anywhere from 3 to 18 months to resolve.

One significant factor in the length of time your case takes is whether it needs to be filed in court as a lawsuit. We can settle many cases without filing a lawsuit and going to court. If we do not need to file a lawsuit on your behalf to obtain a settlement, the average case length is 3 to 9 months.

However, one substantial variable is how long you are treated for your injuries. If you contact us on the day of your injury and then treat that injury for 6 months, you would be looking at a case length closer to 9 months or beyond. On the other hand, if you have already completed your treatment at the time you contact us – we may be able to resolve your case in 3 months or less.

If you authorize us to file a lawsuit (it is always your choice to do so), your case will likely take more than a year. But then again, every lawsuit is different. Some lawsuits progress quickly, while others take many months to gather the evidence and prepare for trial. Rarely will a case require filing (or defending) an appeal at the appellate court – which usually adds close to an additional year.

At The Henry Law Firm, we know it is human nature to want your personal injury case resolved faster. Unfortunately, a faster resolution does not always equate to a better result. In many instances, it’s been proven that the cases that take longer to resolve usually have a successful outcome.

Four Factors that Affect How Long it Takes to Resolve a Personal Injury Case

Many diverse legal and factual factors can affect how long it takes to resolve your personal injury case. Below we have briefly summarized a few of the most common factors affecting how long you wait to receive compensation.

#1. The Complexity of Your Personal Injury Case

How complex your case is will affect how quickly it is resolved. More straightforward cases like rear-end collisions in a car accident case are faster to resolve because there are likely fewer facts in dispute, and the case details and evidence are easily accessible.

Yet, more complicated personal injury cases like medical malpractice injuries will take longer because there are usually significantly more facts that can be disputed, requiring extensive investigation and reports from specialists and experts.

#2. The Court System

Some judges move cases faster than others. It can cause frustration, but your case timeline could often be pushed back because there is a backlog or limited availability of judges if your personal injury lawsuit is set for trial. That’s why it’s an excellent idea to consider hiring a local attorney who understands the proceedings and can file your case for you so that you don’t need to wait longer.

#3. Severity of Your Injuries

If you did not know this already, the severity of your injuries could affect how long your case takes to resolve. If you have minor injuries like whiplash, cuts, scrapes, and minor broken bones, you will likely have your personal injury case settled faster.

However, claims for disabling injuries like chronic pain, complex fractures, spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and amputations take considerably longer to resolve. This is because the recovery time for these injuries is much longer, so it’s necessary to determine a long-term diagnosis to determine an appropriate compensatory amount for your injuries.

Thus, if your injuries are severe, resolving your personal injury case could take up to two years.

#4. Number of Damages

The higher your damages in a case, the less likely an insurance company will pay in a short amount of time. To prove high damages, your attorney must compile detailed information and support for your claim. Insurance companies will also require a higher degree of proof before they will be willing to pay the total value. That’s why it’s essential to have patience so that you don’t accept a lower amount.

Speak With an Ohio Personal Injury Lawyer Today

Personal injury cases can be pretty challenging to navigate if you’re unsure about what you need to do to ensure it is resolved favorably. If you want your case to resolve promptly while receiving a fair settlement amount, you should consider consulting with an Ohio personal injury lawyer.

At The Henry Law Firm, we truly understand that our clients want fast results, which is why we will work alongside you to resolve your personal injury case as quickly as possible. Yet we won’t rush and will explain the various legal steps you, and we will take to obtain you the best possible compensation amount. Should you wish to speak to us about your legal options, contact us today.