Personal Injury Attorney

After suffering an injury at the hands of another person, you may be quick to ask when you are going to receive compensation. Even if you file a claim right away, it does not mean that you will receive your compensation as quickly. Here is what you need to know about how long it may take.

Statute of Limitations

There is a statute of limitations when it comes to filing a personal injury claim. This varies through different states. In most states it is between two and three years. Sometimes, the timer begins when you suffer the initial injury. In some instances, you may be able to wait until you become aware of the severity of the injury. It is important to talk to a lawyer as soon as possible to avoid waiting too long.

Settlement Negotiations

Negotiating your settlement can take time. It is up to you to decide when it is worth accepting the settlement. You may want to be patient. When you are injured and file a claim, evaluations on your care and costs have to be completed. If you are still currently in treatment and have future treatments to undergo, this could delay the final settlement. It is important that you wait until you know that you are receiving compensation that is worth your injury.

Burden of Proof

Some personal injury cases may be more difficult to prove than others. This means that it could take longer for you to see your settlement or to even start negotiations. For instance, if you are in a car accident, fault is easier to prove. Normally, it is easy to prove that the car accident caused your injuries and then you would have more evidence that backs up what happened. You may have photographic evidence, police reports and witness testimony as to what happened.

On the other hand, if you slipped and fell in a grocery store and proceed to sue the business, you are going to have a harder time proving that your injuries were caused by a slip and fall. That isn’t to say that you can’t prove that it was the fault of the business. This just means that it is going to take more time to prove your case.

All cases are going to vary in the length of time that they take. It is important that you file a claim as soon as possible. The sooner that you file your claim, the sooner you will see your settlement. Additionally, you are less likely to wind up waiting until after the statute of limitations is up. To find out more about filing your personal injury claim, consider a consultation with a personal injury attorney, like from David & Philpot P.L., as soon as possible.