If you were injured due to someone else’s negligence, you are likely anxious to get your settlement check and start paying off medical bills and other bills that have accumulated while you’ve been off work.
However, the timeline of a settlement in Colorado can vary considerably from one case to the next, some lasting a few months, while others take years before they conclude.
Steps Involved in Colorado Personal Injury Cases
To get a better understanding of the potential timeline to settle your Colorado personal injury case, it is important to understand the various steps involved in a “typical” case, which may include:
- Seeking medical attention: You should seek medical attention immediately after an accident so that your injuries can be promptly diagnosed and treated. Your personal injury lawyer will likely recommend that you reach maximum medical improvement (MMI) before you attempt to settle your case. This could take several months or even longer, depending on the severity of your injuries.
- Investigating the accident: To recover compensation for your injuries, you will need to be able to prove that another party was legally at fault. You will likely need strong evidence to establish this fact and overcome the insurance company’s hesitance to pay fair compensation. Your personal injury lawyer and the insurance company may conduct separate investigations by gathering documentation, interviewing witnesses, reviewing reports, and analyzing other information to determine how the accident happened and who was at fault.
- Sending a demand letter: Your attorney will handle the legal claims process, culminating in sending a detailed demand letter to the insurance company that explains how the accident occurred, why the insured was responsible, and how much compensation you will accept to settle your claim.
- Negotiating your claim: The insurance company may respond to the demand letter by offering a settlement for less money than your personal injury attorney demanded. Your lawyer and the insurance adjuster may go through several rounds of negotiations before reaching a settlement.
- Accepting a settlement or litigating your case: At this stage, you will either accept a settlement or decide to file a lawsuit. If you choose litigation, the case will involve several more steps, including pretrial motions, the discovery phase, continued settlement negotiations, pre-settlement conferences, and, finally, trial.
An experienced personal injury attorney can help guide you through the entire legal process.
Factors That Affect the Timeline of Personal Injury Cases in Colorado
Various factors can affect how long your case takes, including:
- The severity of your injuries, with more serious injuries generally taking longer to resolve
- Whether liability is contested and thorough investigations or expert witnesses are necessary
- The length of your medical recovery
- Whether the case is resolved through a settlement or goes to court
- The willingness of the parties to resolve the case
- Any intentional delays by the insurance company
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Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer Who Will Value Your Time
At Dulin McQuinn Young, we can expedite your personal injury claim without sacrificing its value. We can give you a better idea about the potential timeline of your particular case after investigating. Contact us today to get started.