Most personal injuries, such as car accidents and premises injury claims involve an insurance company to settle an injury claim. In Fort Worth or Dallas, a claim may settle with the adjuster or the insurer may hire local Texas lawyers. The time and complexity involved in settling an injury claim or suit depends upon the injuries, the medical records, the general likelihood of the injury, the amount demanded and other factors.
Setting cases in Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas
The easiest claims to settle are those with obvious injuries that will heal with no long term effects. It is fairly easy to show that your arm was not broken, then it was broken and it will heal. Those are easy to settle. There is little room to question the injury or its cause. There is little question about recovering long term medical expenses or pain and suffering.
The claims become more difficult to settle as the injuries become more complex, involve soft tissue (so there is no visual sign of injury or pain), emotional trauma occurred, loss of cognitive function, long term pain and suffering or long term medical expenses are required. In these cases proof of the injury and the appropriate costs of treatment and pain may be greater, causing the insurer to be more willing to litigate. The claims may be more ambiguous. That improves the insurer’s chance that a jury may disagree that the injury is serious. That does not mean that somebody who has injuries or pain should not recover or prepare to litigate those claims. It just means the insurer is going to be less willing to settle.
Large cases in Fort Worth and Dallas, Texas
Claims that involve large sums of money, especially those beyond the policy limits of the insurance policy, are very likely to go to trial because the amount needed to make the injured person whole exceeds what the insurer could agree to settle because the insurer cannot pay more than the policy limits. In those situations, the trial, and possibly appeals, can significantly extend the time to recover for the injuries.
Easier claims may settle as quickly as weeks or a few months after the insurer is notified of the injury and provided the appropriate records (and often quicker once they know you have an attorney). The more difficult claims may require months or, if it goes to trial, possibly years to settle. Large claims, even with the help of a lawyer near you, often take years to resolve due to the complexity and disagreement over the value of the case. If you believe you have an injury case then you should talk to a Texas personal injury lawyer ASAP. Injury claims have a statute of limitations to pursue your claim. Most claims are two years but some have shorter periods. A Bedford, Texas lawyer can help assess your case and limitations periods.
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