When you have been injured in an accident caused by someone else, you want to recover compensation for your damages as quickly as possible. Knowing what to expect during the personal injury claim process is essential.
The steps and timeline of your claim will vary depending on the facts of your case. However, most personal injury claims follow a similar process. An experienced personal injury attorney in Chicago will be able to provide a more specific timeline for your unique claim.
The Personal Injury Claim Timeline
Most personal injury claims are settled without going to trial, and most of them follow a similar timeline. Here is what you can expect during the personal claim process:
- Seek medical attention. After your accident, you must promptly seek medical care. Even if you do not believe your injuries are severe, you should be evaluated by a medical professional. Many serious injuries are not immediately apparent. You must then follow your treatment plan and attend all follow-up appointments. This phase may last from one week to several months, depending on the severity of your injuries and your prognosis for reaching maximum recovery.
- Consult an experienced personal injury attorney. A skilled personal injury attorney will carefully investigate your accident to identify all possible causes and potentially liable parties. They will conduct discovery to uncover evidence to support your claim and will begin communicating with the insurance companies handling your claim. This phase may last from a few weeks to a few months, depending on the complexity of your case.
- Filing your insurance claim. Once we have completed the investigation of your accident, we will submit documentation of your damages and an outline of how the insured is liable for your injuries. The insurance company will assign an adjuster to review the claim. This phase may take from a few weeks to a few months.
- Negotiations. In this phase, we will work to reach a fair settlement of your claim. An insurance company’s goal is to deny your claim or to pay as little as possible to settle it. Your attorney’s job is to present evidence to prove how the insured is liable, the existence and severity of your damages, and the value of your damages, and to help you recover maximum compensation. This phase may take a few months.
- File your lawsuit. If a fair settlement is not reached, we will prepare and file your personal injury lawsuit and begin preparing for trial. The length of this phase depends on numerous factors, including the court’s schedule, the number of parties involved, and the complexity of your case.
- Trial. Almost all claims are resolved before the trial begins. If not, the trial phase involves selecting the jury, presenting opening statements, presenting evidence to support your claim (including documents and witness testimony), closing arguments, the jury deliberation, and the verdict. Trials may last one to several days.
The time it takes to recover compensation varies greatly depending on the facts of each case. Your attorney will be able to provide a more accurate timeline for recovering compensation once they have investigated your accident and begun negotiations with the insurance company. At Meyers & Flowers Trial Attorneys, our personal injury lawyers are skilled negotiators who work diligently to secure a fair settlement as efficiently as possible.
What You Can Do To Speed Up the Claim Process
There are several steps you can take to help expedite the claim process. First, follow your treatment plan and keep all medical appointments.
Second, follow your attorney’s advice. Your attorney will instruct you on things you should and should not do while your claim is pending. They want you to recover maximum compensation for your damages, so help them by following their advice.
Third, be patient and responsive. If your attorney requests information or documentation, promptly communicate and address those requests.
Schedule a Free Consultation With an Experienced Personal Injury Lawyer
The personal injury lawyers at Meyers & Flowers Trial Attorneys have the experience, skills, and resources to help recover maximum compensation as quickly as possible.
Call (630) 576-0528 or visit our contact page to schedule a free consultation to discuss your personal injury claim.