When you’re considering a medical malpractice lawsuit, you may be curious how long the process will take. Each case is different, so your lawyer will try to give you an estimate in your initial consultation of how long you can expect the process to take. However, there are so many elements to a malpractice case that putting an exact time limit on one can be difficult. The average case takes about two to three years to settle. But if you and the other party can’t reach an agreement in mediation, expect the case to take at least four years. The length of time a case takes also depends on how much compensation your lawyer asks for. Many times, they will ask for punitive damages if the actions of the doctor or health care center were especially egregious. Cases with a value of more than $2 million can easily take five to fifteen years to settle. Insurance companies are reluctant to pay out seven-figure settlements and will go over every aspect of your case with a fine-toothed comb, which will take time.