How Long Do Most Personal Injury Cases Take to Settle in Nevada?

Personal Injury

April 11, 2023 | 4 min read

The time it takes to reach a personal injury settlement depends on a number of different factors. A personal injury lawyer in Las Vegas will fully review the facts of your case and advise you how long it might take to obtain a settlement.

It is natural to want to settle your case as soon as possible. You may be facing significant medical expenses, time away from work, and other financial challenges. It may be tempting to accept the insurance company’s offer so you can reclaim your financial stability, pay off any bills, and move on with your life.

Before accepting a personal injury settlement, you need to know what your case is worth. The insurance adjuster is not on your side, and the settlement offer is likely less than what you really deserve.

Call Burg Simpson Law Firm at 702-668-2070 today for a FREE and confidential case evaluation. Our personal injury lawyers serve clients in Las Vegas and other areas of Nevada.

What Issues Affect the Timeline for a Personal Injury Settlement?

No two personal injury cases are exactly alike. Some claims are relatively straightforward, while others may involve a number of complex issues.

On average, a settlement may be reached in a personal injury claim within 3–6 months. More challenging cases, meanwhile, can take a year or more to resolve.

Elements that may lead to a personal injury settlement taking longer to obtain include:

1. The Type of Case

Many different events can give rise to a personal injury claim. These include:

Certain types of personal injury cases involve unique challenges. For example, truck accident litigation tends to be more complicated than other cases involving motor vehicle collisions because the plaintiff generally needs to prove liability not only on the part of the truck driver but on the trucking company, as well.

Any case involving large and powerful defendants (such as a corporation, a major insurance carrier, etc.) will usually take longer to settle than a case against a single negligent individual.

2. The Injuries You Have Suffered

The severity of your accident injuries will have a significant impact on the complexity of your claim. If the injury will fully heal with no permanent effects—e.g., bruises, soft tissue injuries, cuts, simple bone fractures, etc.—a settlement may be reached within a few months.

More complex injuries, meanwhile, will need to stabilize before an accurate understanding can be reached of both the seriousness and any long-term or permanent effects. Examples include:

Brain Injuries
Spinal Cord Injuries
Burn Injuries
Loss of a Limb
Damage to Internal Organs
And More

These injuries generally require extensive, ongoing medical care and entail a wide range of financial costs and physical, emotional, and mental limitations. Your injury lawyer will be able to calculate the full damages associated with a serious injury once your doctors determine that you have reached maximum improvement. This takes time, which in turn means waiting for a prognosis before your attorney can negotiate a fair personal injury settlement.

3. The Compensation You Are Due

Insurance companies count on claimants not to know what compensable damages are available in their case. This allows them to avoid big payouts by offering low settlements.

Accepting an insurance company’s low-ball settlement offer will result in you getting money for the accident sooner, but it may not be enough to cover all of your current costs. Furthermore, if you agree to settle before talking to a lawyer, you will not be able to make a second claim for additional losses you may incur in the future.

By hiring a personal injury attorney, you will gain a thorough understanding of what compensation may be recovered. Your attorney can also take on the challenges of negotiating a favorable settlement. Settlement negotiations may be prolonged when substantial damages are involved, but the wait is worthwhile if it means obtaining the money you need and deserve.

Filing a Personal Injury Lawsuit

In Nevada, the statute of limitations for personal injury claims is 2 years. Two years is the maximum amount of time one has to bring “an action to recover damages for injuries … caused by the wrongful act or neglect of another” (see Nevada Revised Statutes § 11.190). An “action” in this case means a complaint against the defendant—in other words, filing a lawsuit.

The majority of personal injury claims are settled prior to when the statute of limitations expires. Issues such as disputed liability, the complexity of your injuries, and how willing the insurer is to negotiate can result in prolonged settlement negotiations.

If the limitation period is approaching and your case has not been settled, your attorney will need to formally file a lawsuit to preserve your right to compensation. Your lawyer may still be able to negotiate a personal injury settlement after the lawsuit is filed; however, it is also important for your attorney to begin preparing your case for trial.

Maximize Your Personal Injury Settlement

Burg Simpson Law Firm in Nevada has the experience and knowledge to negotiate a fair settlement of your case. Personal injury is all we do, and we have a reputation for obtaining results.

View Our Results

Our attorneys have obtained more than $2 billion in verdicts and settlements for our clients. Insurance companies know that we will not settle for less, enabling us to negotiate more favorable settlements in a wide range of personal injury claims.

Contact Burg Simpson for a FREE and confidential case evaluation. Our personal injury lawyers serve clients in Las Vegas and all of Nevada.