People injured by the negligence of others are often entitled to a settlement. This settlement can pay for things like medical expenses and cover lost wages, but it can also be used to deter the accountable party from behaving negligently in the future.
When injuries are severe, your settlement will be crucial to ensure you continue to receive the medical treatment you need to recover. It will also allow you to cover basic living expenses, including mortgage payments, utility bills, and other costs. Here is a look at how long it can take to receive a settlement after being injured.
Minor vs. Major Injuries
Cases involving minor injuries are usually resolved quicker, as it’s easier to determine the amount of money needed for medical treatment. For example, imagine you sustain a broken arm in a car accident. If the break is relatively uncomplicated to repair, and it’s unlikely you’ll require ongoing rehab to recover afterwards, medical costs can be calculated rather quickly. Additionally, doctors will be able to provide a reasonable timeline on when you can return to work.
Now consider you sustain damage to the spine in the same accident. In addition to immediate treatment, you may require ongoing therapy to make a full or partial recovery. Your doctor might also be unsure when you can return to work and other activities at the outset. In this case, your settlement must be calculated based on a lot of unknown variables, so it will naturally take longer.
Phases of Personal Injury Trials
Some personal injury trials are resolved right after the discovery phase, which usually takes six months to a year to complete. After the discovery phase, your legal team with negotiate with the opposing team to come up with a reasonable figure. If negotiations fall through, the process moves to an actual trial, which not all personal injury victims experience.
Trials can last a few days, a few weeks, or several months. This is because there are often delays and hang-ups, which push the end date further into the future. Both legal teams will present their evidence to a judge and jury. Once it comes time for a decision to be made, a settlement should be reached rather quickly.
Here are Martinez, Hart, Sanchez & Romero, P.C., we approach every case backed by more than three decades of experience. As a result, we can resolve personal injury cases on behalf of Albuquerque clients as quickly as possible. We can also help negotiate a settlement that suits the severity of your injuries. Please call 505-343-1776 to schedule a consultation. You can also contact us for more information.