Your solicitor can give you a time estimate based on experience. There is no set period when personal injury claims must be settled.
The average simple car accident claim where a person has suffered whiplash injuries, for example, can be settled within 6 to 12 months. This will be the case if fault is admitted by the other driver.
Other claims such as serious
medical negligence claims can take upwards of 2 years if the doctor (s) or hospital disputes fault.
If your injuries are more complicated and it takes longer for you to get better, it would not be wise for you to push the claim for early settlement.
It is important to remember that when your claim settles, your compensation will be paid on a once and for all basis. It is therefore vital that you receive the right amount for your personal injury. This is only possible if your injuries have fully resolved or the doctor is able to give a clear picture of the period when you are likely to fully recover from your injuries.
What we do at Balinda & Co to help our clients after an accident, we ask for interim payments in almost every claim where it is clear that the case will last longer than 12 months. Interim payment is like advance payment.
If the question of who was to blame for the accident has been resolved, you can get interim payment once, twice or even three times as long as your claim is still on going.
Money can not of course ever fully compensate you for the pain and suffering you have gone through, but if you sustained severe injuries, you need to be sure that your future well being is properly assessed. There should be enough money to pay for your needs in the future.
Do not be forced into accepting an early settlement of your
personal injury claim because you may end up getting considerably less than what your claim is actually worth.
Insurance companies tend to make low offers at the beginning of a claim in order to save costs and put pressure on the person claiming compensation. We always advise our clients to wait until their medical condition has improved before agreeing to a settlement.
If you have suffered injuries in a car accident or
work accident, you may be entitled to claim compensation. You should seek advice from a specialist personal injury solicitor.
Asiimwe Balinda
Personal injury solicitor