It depends on many factors, few of which you control. Sometimes it has taken our firm just a month or two to negotiate a fair and reasonable settlement for a client with a brain injury. In other matters, negotiations have stretched beyond a year. Plus, of course, some cases do not settle at all. Instead, we have to go to court to try to obtain an award from a Philadelphia jury.
As a general matter, the factors that can affect how long it takes to resolve a legal claim for damages resulting from a brain injury include:
The amount of money involved. It is not always the case, but generally it can take longer to resolve high-dollar-value claims than claims for lesser amounts.
The number of parties involved. The saying “too many cooks in the kitchen” can also apply to negotiations over the resolution of a legal claim. The more individuals or entities with potential liability for your injury, the longer it may take to reach an agreement with them.
The complexity of your injury. Your medical team and lawyer may need time to evaluate the scope of your injury and your financial needs for recovering from and/or adapting to it.
How long you can hold out. A TBI can put a serious financial strain on victims and their families. They may feel pressure to resolve any potential legal claim for damages quickly, just to stay afloat. If they can hold out financially, however, it may take longer to resolve their claim, but they may recover more compensation, too. While we work on your case, however, our Philadelphia brain injury lawyers can help you keep bill collectors and collection agents at bay.