How Long Does It Take to Settle a Personal Injury Claim in Mississippi?

When you’re hurt, out of work, and struggling, you may wonder how quickly you can settle your personal injury claim and get the financial resources you need to get back on your feet. Unfortunately, the insurance company will try to drag out your case for as long as possible, hoping that you’ll accept an unfair settlement.

As quickly as you’d like to resolve your case, there are some things you should know about filing a personal injury claim. In this article, Andy Citrin Injury Attorneys discusses the factors that affect how fast things go through, and what you can do to make the process go smoothly.

Factors that Impact How Quickly Your Mississippi Personal Injury Case Is Settled

No two injury claims are the same, and you deserve a personalized assessment of the legal issues that may impact your claim’s speed and value. However, the amount of time it takes to settle your Mississippi personal injury case will depend on several factors.

How Hurt You Are

When you’ve been badly hurt, it can be hard to know the full extent of your injuries, how much care you’ll need, and the total cost of your future medical treatment. Typically, more complex, serious injuries mean a longer process. Sometimes, it’s best to wait until you reach “maximum medical improvement” or MMI, which is when your condition stabilizes and will no longer improve. However, when you work with an experienced Mississippi injury lawyer, they may be able to able to speed up the process by consulting with medical experts and carefully estimating your damages.

Any Disagreement About Who Caused the Accident

When there is a disagreement about who caused the accident, this could slow your case down. In Mississippi, if the victim did anything to contribute to the crash — for example, by speeding or having a brake light out — their final settlement can be reduced in proportion to their responsibility.

So, if the jury decides you are 10% responsible for the accident that hurt you, you are eligible to receive 90% of the compensation. This can be tricky to understand and navigate, which could delay the process. If the person who hurt you is claiming you’re partly responsible for your injuries, you should consider contacting an attorney right away.

How Long it Takes to Get Medical Bills, Records, and Other Documents

Medical bills, records, and other documents like traffic reports are critical pieces of evidence in injury cases. If it takes a long time to get these records, it could slow the process down. An injury lawyer can help you collect all of your records and information, strengthening your claim, and speeding up the process.

If the Insurance Company Is Stalling on Purpose

One of the dirtiest tactics an insurance company can use to avoid paying a settlement is to stall. Many companies will simply delay making decisions, avoid calling you, and refuse to pay on time, just to get victims to give up on their claim. If you’re struggling to communicate with your insurance adjuster, aren’t getting answers, or they’re avoiding your calls, you need a lawyer who can fight on your behalf.

“After a car accident, we always recommend keeping a record of your pain, your ability to work, and if you can keep up with your daily life and routine. This information will support your case later, but it is easy to forget if you don’t write it down now.”

Whether You Hire a Mississippi Personal Injury Lawyer

Recovering from a terrible accident is never easy. When your medical bills are piling up, you’re missing work, and dealing with painful injuries, the last thing you want to do is go head-to-head with an insurance company or negligent driver. An experienced Mississippi personal injury attorney can fight for you while you recover and take care of details like paperwork and evidence. Hiring an attorney is also one of the easiest ways to make sure your claim is processed as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Ways to Speed Up Your Personal Injury Claim

While there’s no set way to “make” your claim go faster, there are steps you can take to make the process as efficient as possible.

Go to the Doctor

After a crash, you might be tempted to skip getting checked out because you are not hurt “that bad,” or because you don’t want to pay for your treatment. Don’t let this stop you from going to the doctor. Not only are medical records valuable evidence, but you can use your settlement to cover the cost of your medical treatment and medical expenses.

Record or Write Down Your Experiences

After a car accident, we always recommend keeping a record of your pain, your ability to work, and if you can keep up with your daily life and routine. This information will support your case later, but it is easy to forget if you don’t write it down now.

File Your Claim Within the Mississippi Statute of Limitations

If you’ve been hurt in a crash in Mississippi, you have three years to file an injury claim or personal injury lawsuit. If you contact a personal injury attorney right away, it’ll help the process go more smoothly with less stress, rather than waiting until the last minute.

Hire a Mississippi Personal Injury Lawyer

When you need justice, answers, and your case to resolve quickly, you need a tenacious lawyer who can speed the process along and fight for you.

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Hurt in Mississippi? Andy Citrin Injury Attorneys Is Here to Help

At Andy Citrin Injury Attorneys, we’re proud of our connection to our Mississippi community and our law firm’s reputation of success in the courtroom. If you’ve been hurt and need help, don’t wait to contact us. We’ll meet with you in a free consultation to help you understand the value of your case, how long it could take to resolve, and what to do next. To request your risk-free case evaluation, call our office at  228-888-8888 or fill out this simple online contact form.

The content provided here is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice on any subject.