How Long Does An Average Personal Injury Case Take to Settle in Florida

A personal injury case in Florida refers to a mishap where a person or a party suffers injuries and losses due to the negligence or unintended mistake of another party. Florida law entitles its injury victims to fair compensation for the losses they incur without any fault of their own. Florida is a no-fault state. The status implies that after an accident takes place, the driver’s insurance coverage (termed as PIP or Personal Injury Protection coverage) pays for their treatment costs and loss of income. PIP is mandatory for vehicle drivers on Florida roadways. Usually, the average PIP policy limit is $10,000. Personal injury victims seeking compensation in Florida often have a common query about the potential timeframe for personal injury case settlement payouts. A personal injury case takes four to six weeks on average to settle once both parties agree on the compensation amount. Yet, the answer depends on several factors. When the victims are aware of the general timeline, they have realistic expectations. At Injury Assistance Law Firm, our personal injury attorneys guide you through the legal maze of complex personal injury cases and help you reach a settlement in Florida. 

Damages Covered in A Personal Injury Case 

When an insurance policy covers a personal injury, the settlement may take weeks to months. The insurer tries to resolve the case quickly, but the amount is determined based on what the victim deserves. Insurance companies often attempt to reduce the settlement amount by minimizing or denying the extent of the injuries. 

What’s the Average Timeline of A Personal Injury Case? 

The question often asked is – how long does it take to resolve a personal injury case? In reality, the timeline varies depending on several factors. Those include the severity of the injuries, the insurance company’s level of cooperation, and other factors. Some cases take a few months, especially when the liability is clear. Factors such as the need for surgeries or insurance company disputes may prolong the case by a year or more. It’s not a wise decision to settle the case early if the victim is under ongoing treatment. The impact of the injuries and losses in the long run must be clear before the personal injury lawyers proceed to the final settlement. 

How Do Settlements Go? 

Expert attorneys don’t usually settle a personal injury case on one handshake. The likelihood of victims receiving low monetary compensation always remains, as the settlement value may not fairly compensate all losses in the long run. Reaching the settlement takes a number of steps. 

• Both parties draft a settlement agreement. Each party doesn’t agree to some of the terms that the other party proposes. Then the parties proceed to work together on the agreed terms of the agreement and sign the settlement agreement. 
• The insurance company issues a check to your attorney for the total settlement amount, and your lawyer deposits the settlement check into an escrow account. 
• The personal injury attorney deducts the additional amounts like medical liens, expenses spent on the case, and legal fees. 
• The attorney gives the victim a check for the remainder of the fund.

The law doesn’t usually offer you a massive chunk of the settlement value unless you win punitive damages.  

Delay in Settlement is Important Sometimes

Winning settlement value against the opponent party is a longer process (takes weeks or months) than accepting the settlement offer proposed by the insurance company. In most cases, complex personal injury cases take longer to settle. The at-fault party’s first settlement offer is always low, and once the victim’s party accepts the offer, the verdict can never change. Therefore, it’s profitable to delay the settlement. 

The liable party always wants the victims to accept the settlement check before they are discharged from the hospital. After you have been in an accident and suffered injuries, never take the first offer made by your insurance company. You can leverage other ways to handle your medical expenses before you settle. If you don’t accept the settlement check on the first go, your chances of winning a big amount remain high. 

What Are the Reasons behind A Delayed Settlement? 

There are hundreds of factors that may delay the settlement. Let’s have a look at the reasons why most of the delays happen. 

• Delay in Medical Recovery 

Maximum Medical Improvement is the point where further medical treatment can’t improve your condition anymore. Health states may fluctuate after you have incurred serious physical injuries. It’s always wiser to file a claim after you reach your maximum medical improvement. Calculating your damages becomes easier once you have reached your ultimate recovery state.  

• Expert Witnesses take Time

Our personal injury attorneys communicate with expert witnesses to provide testimonies on the complex personal injury case. Both the victim and the at-fault party need expert witnesses, as is routine in product liability and medical malpractice cases. Expert witnesses take time to study the personal injury case and prepare their statements. 

• How Big is Your Compensation Claim? 

The bigger the potential settlement worth, the more resistance there will be from the insurance company’s side. When you deserve a big amount, the at-fault party will put every strategy in action to avoid paying you the deserved amount to compensate your losses. 

• The Non-Economic Damages 

Non-economic damages include physical pain, mental trauma, and psychological distress. These damages are difficult to quantify. These recovery claims amount to more than of the quantifiable losses. Medical bills, loss of income, and out-of-pocket expenses combine the quantifiable compensation worth. The at-fault try the most to deprive the victim of the compensation value. At Injury Assistance Law Firm, our personal injury attorneys assist you with solid legal backup to win the settlement value you deserve for the losses suffered. 

Consult Personal Injury Attorneys at Injury Assistance Law Firm for A Smart Settlement 

A seasoned personal injury attorney can quickly settle your claim with in-depth knowledge of Florida law and sharp legal assistance. With years of experience and expertise, our lawyers can help you win the fair compensation amount. In case you have been in a personal injury mishap, you must know how the law pays the personal injury settlements in Florida. No one can predict or guarantee the outcome, yet we leave no stone unturned on your way to a fair settlement. 

Accidents can happen anytime, anywhere. Once the mishap is done, what’s more important is how you address the occurrence. And, when your attorney takes over the case, the professional will proceed toward the final recovery while keeping the crucial aspects in mind. Your personal injury case will get resolved by the time it should. At Injury Assistance Law Firm, you can get a free evaluation of your case to know the available legal options for your case. Contact us for any of your personal injury needs.