Jill Kolodner | December 22, 2022 | Personal Injury
After sustaining a personal injury, protecting your right to compensation for damages is important. Therefore, you might want to seek legal advice from a Baltimore personal injury lawyer. An attorney can help you navigate insurance claims and personal injury lawsuits.
Additionally, an experienced accident attorney can ensure that your case continues moving as quickly as possible. The sooner your claim settles, the sooner you’ll receive a personal injury settlement check.
However, many factors impact the timeline of a personal injury case. Unfortunately, some of those factors can slow down the process.
Factors That Can Impact How Long It Takes To Receive a Personal Injury Settlement Check in Maryland
It can take a few months to a few years to settle a personal injury claim. If you file a personal injury lawsuit, the case could take a year or longer to go to trial. An experienced lawyer in Baltimore will strive to get you the money you deserve as quickly as possible after an injury or accident.
However, specific factors can slow down the process. Furthermore, you don’t want to rush to a settlement just to close the case. The goal is to maximize the amount of your personal injury settlement to put as much money in your pocket as possible.
Factors that can affect how long it takes to receive a personal injury settlement check include, but are not limited to:
Your Recovery Period
One of the most significant factors that impact the timeline is your recovery period. We do not want to settle your injury claim until you reach maximum medical improvement.
Until your doctor states that you have recovered fully or that additional treatment will not improve your condition, it is impossible to know the extent of your damages. If you settle your case before reaching maximum medical improvement, you could receive much less than your claim is worth.
Disputes Regarding Fault and Liability
You have the burden of proving that the other party caused your injuries and damages. If the insurance company or the other party disputes fault and liability, your attorney must gather sufficient evidence to prove your case.
Our legal team conducts independent investigations in every case. We gather evidence proving causation, fault, and liability. We must identify each party responsible for your injury to increase the chance of recovering compensation for all damages.
Some investigations could take longer, especially when multiple parties are involved in the case. Complex areas of personal injury law can also require additional time to investigate and build a case, such as medical malpractice, premises liability, and product liability claims.
The Insurance Company Involved in the Case
Some insurance companies are more difficult to deal with than others. For that reason, the insurance company involved in the case could impact how long it takes to receive a settlement check. If the insurance company is unwilling to negotiate in good faith, we might have no choice but to file a personal injury lawsuit.
Whether You Sustained Permanent Impairments or Disabilities
Personal injury cases involving catastrophic injuries typically take longer to settle. First, the recovery time is generally longer when a person sustains a traumatic injury. Second, it takes time to evaluate permanent impairments and disabilities.
Your attorney may need to hire medical specialists, financial professionals, and other expert witnesses to assess and calculate future damages. In addition to compensation for economic and non-economic damages to date, you could be entitled to compensation for decreases in future earning capacity, ongoing pain, and suffering, and diminished quality of life because of an impairment.
How Long Does It Take To Receive a Settlement Check After Signing a Settlement Agreement?
Once you sign a settlement agreement, receiving a settlement check can take a few days to a few weeks. Your lawyer will deposit the settlement check into their trust account to hold it until it clears. If there are no medical liens or subrogation claims to resolve, they’ll cut you a net check once the settlement check clears the bank and they deduct their contingency fee and costs.
However, most personal injury cases have outstanding medical bills and claims that must be paid. Our lawyers will negotiate with the providers to reduce the amount we must pay to satisfy the lien or claim. This process could take a few weeks, but it could result in more money for you.
We understand that you need your personal injury settlement check as soon as possible. Therefore, we will work as quickly as possible to put that money in your hands.
Contact the Baltimore Personal Injury Lawyer Law Firm of WGK Personal Injury Lawyers Today For Help
For more information contact the Baltimore personal injury law firm of WGK Personal Injury Lawyers to schedule a free initial consultation.
WGK Personal Injury Lawyers
14 W Madison St, Baltimore, MD 21201, United States
(410) 837-2144
WGK Personal Injury Lawyer – Dundalk Office
7329 Holabird Ave Suite 3, Dundalk, MD 21222
(410) 970-3080