I’ve handled injury claims that just take a couple of months to resolve. But most injury claims do not resolve so quickly. In this post, I’m going to break down a few reasons why your claim might feel like it’s moving at the speed of a turtle.
1st Reason Your Injury Claim May Be Taking a Long Time – Liability
One big reason for a delay in your injury claim could be disputes about who’s at fault. Believe it or not, insurance companies and large corporate defendants don’t just jump up and say, “Oh sure, we’ll pay!” They want to make absolutely sure their insured is responsible.
- In a car accident case, if there’s any question about who caused the accident—whether it’s you or the other driver—this can lead to back-and-forth investigations, witness interviews, accident reconstructions, and even delays in negotiating a settlement.
- In a slip or trip and fall case, it’s often the case that the defendant will claim you were just clumsy or careless and fell due to no fault of their own.
It’s a game of tug-of-war, and you can bet the insurance company is going to hold their end as tight as possible.
2nd Reason Your Injury Claim May Be Taking a Long Time – Medical Treatment & Recovery
In most injury cases, it’s probably not in your best interest to settle your injury case right after your accident.
Why, you might ask? Because you likely won’t have any idea of the value of your case right after your accident.
To know the value of your injury claim, you need to know the full extent of your injuries. That means until you’ve finished medical treatment or at least reached what’s called “maximum medical improvement” (a fancy way of saying you are as recovered as you’re going to get), you, the insurance company, or your lawyer can’t put a value on your case.
So, while it might be frustrating, the time you’re taking to heal is crucial for the final result.
3rd Reason Your Injury Claim May Be Taking a Long Time – Bigger Cases Usually Take Longer
The higher the stakes, the longer it can take. Insurance companies tend to be a little more… how do I put this… “cautious” when they know they might be paying out a larger settlement. And by cautious, I mean they’ll delay, delay, and delay some more, hoping you’ll give up or accept a lowball offer just to get things over with.
If the insurance company is dragging their feet because they know your case could be worth big bucks, hang in there. They are testing your patience.
You have to push back and move your case forward. If you have a case potentially worth a large sum of money, you have to file a lawsuit and put pressure on the insurance company to make you a fair offer.
Do not let the insurance company win by accepting a low settlement offer early on in your case. It is usually worth the wait to get your big settlement.
4th Reason Your Injury Claim May Be Taking a Long Time – Insurance Company Tactic
Insurance companies like to play games and test your patience. Delays can be used as a strategy to pressure you into accepting a settlement that’s way lower than what you deserve.
It’s frustrating, but it’s true. They’re hoping that the longer they stall, the more likely you are to cave because you’re tired of waiting or maybe you really need the money.
By dragging out negotiations, requesting unnecessary documentation, or taking long periods of time to review your claim, they create frustration and financial stress for you.
This can be particularly hard if you’re facing medical bills, lost wages, and other financial burdens related to your injury.
Delays can also make it seem like your case isn’t worth much, causing you to doubt the value of your claim. This tactic is especially effective if you are unaware of the actual value of your claim or don’t have a lawyer representing you.
The goal of these delays is to wear you down and make you accept a lowball offer, even if you’re entitled to more.
5th Reason Your Injury Claim May Be Taking a Long Time – The Court Process Moves Slowly
If your case heads toward litigation, you might be dealing with the slow-moving wheels of the court system.
Many courts are overloaded with cases, leading to court backlogs, busy judges, and delayed trial dates, all of which can push your case further down the calendar.
Even in the best of times, court cases can take a while. Courts have limited resources, including judges, courtrooms, and administrative staff, which means they can only handle a certain number of cases at any given time.
When the docket becomes crowded, it can take longer to schedule hearings and trials. This delay can push back your case for months or even years, as the court prioritizes more urgent cases like criminal matters or those that have been pending for a longer time.
Injury cases that actually go to trial may face multiple continuances, rescheduled hearings, or long gaps between steps in the litigation process.
The delays aren’t necessarily a reflection of the strength of the case; it’s just the reality of an overloaded court system.
Closing Thoughts
Now that you know some of the reasons why your injury case may be taking so long to resolve, what if I told you that I actually know of a way in some cases to speed up your injury claim?
To learn about that method, watch this video about to pop up right here, where I discuss the only way I know to speed up an injury claim.
If you found this post helpful, don’t forget to subscribe to my channel for more helpful videos like this one.
And if you’ve been injured in Kentucky, remember: Don’t Wait, Call Tate!
Disclaimer: This post is not legal advice. Always speak with a lawyer for your particular situation.
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