How Long Will My Personal Injury Case Take in Texas?

April 21, 2021 | Personal Injury

If you or somebody you love has been injured due to the actions of another individual, business, or entity, you will very likely be able to recover compensation. However, personal injury cases can be complicated in Texas. Even though the vast majority of personal injury claims are resolved through settlements with insurance carriers, that is not always the case. It may be necessary for a claim to go all the way to a jury trial. Here, we want to discuss how long it might take a personal injury case to settle in Texas.

Do Most Cases Settle Before Trial?

As we mentioned above, we can see that personal injury claims are typically resolved through settlement with insurance carriers. In these cases, there will typically be back and forth between the injury victim and their attorney and the insurance carrier before a settlement offer is put forward. The insurance settlement process can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months to complete. However, if there is any dispute about fault for an injury claim or about the total compensation that should be paid out to the injury victim, the insurance settlement process could drag out for months or even up to a year or more. Cases that are resolved through settlement with insurance companies will typically conclude much faster than cases that go all the way to trial. However, if the insurance company refuses to offer a fair settlement or denies a claim, there may be no way to avoid a personal injury lawsuit.

Will My Case Take Longer If I Go to Trial?

After a lawsuit is filed in civil court, it is almost guaranteed that it will take longer to resolve than a claim handled through insurance settlements. However, just because a lawsuit has been filed does not mean that it will go all the way to a jury trial. When a lawsuit is filed, this officially starts the discovery process, where both sides will continue to gather evidence related to their claim and exchange this evidence with one another. Negotiations between both parties will continue, and it is still very likely that there will be an out-of-court settlement before the case goes to a jury. That said, this process can take well over a year to conclude, even if a settlement is reached. In the event a personal injury case has to go all the way to trial, the claim may not be resolved for one, two, or even three years or more.

Working With an Attorney

We strongly recommend that any personal injury victim in Texas work with a skilled personal injury lawyer who has experience handling complex injury claims. A personal injury attorney will understand the entire process of resolving a personal injury claim, including insurance settlements and the jury trial process. After gathering evidence and analyzing the facts of the case, a personal injury lawyer will work with their client to determine the best steps moving forward. The ultimate goal is to ensure that an injury victim receives compensation for their bills associated with medical treatments, lost income, property damage expenses, general household out-of-pocket expenses, pain and suffering damages, and more.

At Bonilla Law Firm our personal injury and Austin car accident lawyers help individuals that require legal assistance. Our law firm helps individuals understand their options along with the time that a specific case may take. Discuss your options during a free consultation with our law firm.