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How long it takes to settle a personal injury claim will depend on several factors, including the extent of the injury and the at-fault driver’s insurance company. However, the primary indicator of how much time it will take to reach a settlement will be the time it takes for the client to reach maximum medical improvement.
Maximum medical improvement is the point in which the injury has either been completely resolved, or further medical treatment cannot improve the injury. So for example, in soft tissue accident, maximum medical improvement may be when the client is discharged from the treating chiropractor, physical therapist, or massage therapist, and is feeling as good he or she was prior to the car wreck.
Waiting until the client reaches maximum medical improvement is important because the at-fault driver’s insurance adjuster needs full and accurate information about the injury. When the adjuster knows the full injury, then full value may be placed on the claim.
After the client has reached that level, the car accident lawyer sends the adjuster a demand package. The demand package will contain the client’s medical records, evidence of lost wages, and other items. At this point, the negotiation process with the insurance company will begin. This can take from a few weeks to a month or so. It will depend on the degree of injury and the insurance company.
Generally, the statute of limitations for personal injury claims for car accidents in Georgia is two years, meaning two years from the time of the injury. As such, there may be times where it will be necessary for the car accident lawyer to file a lawsuit prior to the client reaching maximum medical improvement or prior to sending a demand.
If you or a loved on have been involved in a car or truck accident and have questions about how long it may take to resolve, it is important that you call and speak to one of our experienced Atlanta personal injury lawyers today.
