How Long Does It Take To Get a Personal Injury Settlement Check in Georgia?

November 27, 2023 | J.L. King

Your injuries have kept you out of work for a while now, and your medical bills are mounting. Meanwhile, out-of-pocket expenses related to your injury are eating away at your bank account balance. You need money soon. 

Unfortunately, it’s going to take at least some time before a settlement check hits your bank account. Nonetheless, you might have options; speak with your attorney about what you can do in the meantime. Until then, read on for further insight into the topic of how long it will take to receive your settlement check.

The Factors That Matter Most

Below is a list of some of the factors that determine how long it will take for you to get your money. The general rule is that it takes anywhere from several weeks to several months to receive a settlement. In rare cases, however, it could take longer.

The Size of Your Claim

You’d fight harder to avoid paying $100,000 than to avoid paying $5,000, wouldn’t you? So will the opposing party. The general rule is that the more you ask for, the harder the other side will fight. And the harder they fight, the longer your claim will take to settle.

The Complexity of Your Claim

A case based on a technical glitch in an X-ray machine is going to take longer to prove than a case based on a banana peel left in the aisle of a grocery store. Product liability claims and medical malpractice claims, for example, tend to take longer to resolve due to their complexity.

How Long It Takes You to Reach MMI

“MMI” means “maximum medical improvement.” You reach MMI when your doctor decides that it is unlikely that your condition will improve any further. Typically, this means you won’t need any further medical treatment. It’s a good idea to wait for MMI before you file a lawsuit, as the value of your claim will probably be much easier to calculate once you reach MMI.

Litigation

Not all personal injury claims mature into lawsuits. Nevertheless, you might need to file a lawsuit just to stimulate the other side to issue a serious settlement offer. The litigation process can add a certain amount of time to the claim resolution process, even if you end up settling your claim anyway.

The Need for an Expert Witness

You might need an expert witness even during settlement negotiations. Using an expert witness can be time-consuming because it will take time for them to educate themselves on the facts of your case. 

The witness will also take time to generate an informed opinion that will benefit you. The use of expert witnesses is routine in medical malpractice and product liability cases, and not uncommon in other types of claims.

The Need To Claim Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering, are difficult to precisely calculate. Is your pain worth $1,000 or $10,000, for example? This ambiguity could delay the resolution of your claim.

Comparative Negligence

Comparative negligence applies when more than one party shares blame for an accident. In an accident where both parties are at fault, arguing about how much liability each side should bear can take time. 

Insurance Company ‘Dirty Tricks’

Insurance company stalling tactics can delay the resolution of your claim. You are much less likely to run into this problem if you hire a lawyer.

Hammering Out the Terms of a Settlement Agreement

A settlement agreement is a binding contract, and every word matters. It might take a few days to a few weeks to agree on the exact wording of the agreement.

Disbursement of Funds

Disbursement of your funds proceeds as follows:

1. The insurance company writes a check and closes your claim.
2. The insurance company sends the money to your lawyer.
3. Your lawyer places the money into an escrow account.
4. Your lawyer pays off any third-party debts, such as the amount necessary to pay off a medical lien.
5. Your lawyer deducts their own legal fees and case expenses.
6. Your lawyer sends you a check or deposits money into your bank account.

The entire process, for the insurance company writing you a check to the money appearing in your bank account, is usually a matter of weeks.

A Personal Injury Lawyer Can Get You More Money, Faster

Although no ethical lawyer will make any absolute guarantees, a personal injury lawyer can make the difference between winning and losing. Even if you would have won anyway, a personal injury lawyer might be able to triple or even quadruple the amount you win. Speak to an experienced Georgia personal injury lawyer as soon as you can.

Contact Our Personal Injury Law Firm For Help Today

For more information, please contact The King Firm at your nearest location to schedule a free case evaluation today.

Tifton Office
1603 US Hwy 41, Tifton, GA 31794
(229) 386-1376

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3317 Fayetteville Rd, Griffin, GA 30223
(404) 567-4546

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886 Mulberry St, Macon, GA 31201
(478) 312-5550

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