You May Settle Your Claim 2-5 Months After You Finish Treatment
The time it takes to settle your claim is largely dependent on how long it takes you to heal. In order to settle your claim, you must be done treating with doctors. If you have a doctor’s visit after settling the case, the insurance company will not pay for it.
Soft Tissue Injuries (Whiplash)
Most soft tissue injury claims are settled around 5-8 months following the accident.
For most soft tissue injuries (whiplash) you will need:
- 2-4 months of physical therapy
- 2 months to collect records
- 1-2 months to settle your claim
Catastrophic Injuries (Injuries Requiring Surgery, Broken Bones, etc.)
Most catastrophic injury claims are settled around 6-9 months following medical intervention. Catastrophic injury claims involve 1 catastrophic injury (broken bones, ligament or tendon tears, injuries requiring surgery, braces, or casts, and similar injuries) surgery or major medical intervention is usually finished within the 1st year.
After the surgery, you will need:
- 2-4 months of physical therapy
- 2-3 months to collect records
- 2 months to settle your claim
If your injury happened at the workplace and you have a workers’ comp settlement, surgery will increase the claim because it indicates a more serious injury.
WILL SURGERY INCREASE MY SETTLEMENT?
Depending on your situation, surgery may increase your personal injury settlement. High settlements may result from having surgery because of the high cost and life-altering impact that surgery may cause. A higher settlement should not be the main reason that you choose to go through with a medical operation. If you are worried that your settlement cannot cover your costs for surgery, reach out to an experienced personal injury attorney in Anchorage, such as the ones at Farnsworth & Vance.
Two or More Catastrophic Injuries (Coma or Extended Hospital Stay)
For cases involving 2 or more catastrophic injuries, coma, or extended hospital stays, the time required to settle a case depends on insurance. If the insurance policies available are minimal, then our firm has settled claims in under 1 month. If the insurance policies limits are substantial, then expect the claim to settle 6-9 months following medical intervention.
Wrongful Death Cases
For wrongful death cases, it can take up to 1 month to establish a personal representative for the deceased, 1-2 months to settle the claim, and at least 2 months to finalize the deceased’s estate. Most death claims are settled around 4-5 months after we are hired. If you are going through this experience, we are truly sorry for your loss and we hope that you can find some comfort to help you through this difficult time.
Contact Farnsworth & Vance via online form or call (907) 290-2576 to request a free initial consultation.