How Long Does a Pedestrian Accident Take to Settle?

The amount of time it takes to settle a pedestrian accident case will vary depending on a variety of factors. In simple cases involving minor injuries and clear fault, you can get your money in a few months. However, in more complex cases, it can take years to recover the compensation you deserve from the party responsible for your damages.

When attempting to recover compensation after a pedestrian accident, it is critical that you understand how these cases are handled and take all the necessary steps to secure the compensation you need. An experienced Fort Lauderdale pedestrian accident lawyer will help you through every step of the process to get you the money you need as quickly as possible.

The Severity of the Injuries You Incurred in Your Pedestrian Accident Can Affect the Timeline for Settling Your Case

One of the biggest factors that influence how long it will take to settle your case after a pedestrian accident is the severity of the injuries you suffered. 

For cases involving only minor injuries, the timeline for recovering compensation can still vary. Several factors can affect the speed of resolution, including:

• Clarity of medical expenses: Even with minor injuries, the full cost of medical expenses might not always be clear immediately. Delayed symptoms or ongoing treatment can complicate the settlement process, making it harder to determine the case’s worth early on.
• Insurers’ settlement practices: While it might seem that insurers would settle quickly when the payout is smaller, this isn’t always the case. Insurers often use delay tactics to minimize payouts, regardless of the injury’s severity. The speed of settlement depends on the insurer’s policies, the strength of the evidence, and negotiation dynamics.
• Likelihood of trial: Although trials are less common in minor injury cases, they are not impossible. Significant disputes over fault, the extent of injuries, or other legal matters can lead to a trial. The decision to go to trial depends on multiple factors, including the willingness of both parties to settle and the specifics of the case.

Understanding these nuances can help you manage your expectations and prepare for the process of settling your personal injury case.

Florida Is a No-Fault Insurance State

When it comes to pedestrian accident cases in Florida, it’s important to remember that Florida is a no-fault insurance state. This means that people hurt in a car accident in Florida must first look to their insurer for compensation after an accident. Even if you were a pedestrian at the time of the incident, your car insurance policy should apply.

All drivers in the state are required to carry personal injury protection (PIP) coverage as part of their insurance policy. This coverage helps pay for medical expenses, lost wages, and other accident-related costs up to the policy limits, regardless of who was at fault.

You can pursue further compensation from the at-fault party’s insurance provider or directly from the liable party only if you suffer a severe or permanent injury with damages that exceed your PIP coverage limits. Severe injuries are defined as significant or permanent loss of an important bodily function, permanent injury, significant/permanent scarring or disfigurement, or death.

While PIP claims are intended to be settled quickly to provide prompt medical treatment, the actual timeline can vary based on the specifics of the case, the insurance company’s procedures, and the presence of any disputes or delays in documentation.

Going to Court Can Significantly Increase the Time it Takes to Settle Your Pedestrian Accident Case

If your injuries are severe enough to permit you to take legal action against the party that caused your accident, it is still unlikely that your case will end up in a courtroom. The vast majority of pedestrian accident cases end up settling out of court. The reason settlements are so common is that they are typically in the best interests of everyone involved.

Settling will significantly lessen the amount of time it takes to recover the money you need while allowing you to avoid leaving your fate in the hands of an unpredictable jury. On the other side, settling can help them avoid any unwanted attention that can come with a trial, along with reducing their legal fees.

Unfortunately, settling is not always an option. The other party or their insurance provider may be unwilling to agree to a settlement deal, making a trial necessary. If your case goes to trial, it will likely take you years to recover the money you deserve for your damages.

Hiring an Attorney Can Help Lessen the Time it Takes to Settle Your Pedestrian Accident Case

Hiring an experienced Fort Lauderdale personal injury lawyer will likely significantly reduce the time it takes to settle your pedestrian accident case. Once you get an attorney involved, insurance companies realize that you are serious about pursuing compensation and will generally be quicker to offer a settlement deal that is closer to the full value of your claim.

Without a lawyer, insurers tend to offer lowball settlement deals and are typically unwilling to make significant adjustments to their initial settlement offers. Insurers rely on the extreme difference in experience between accident victims and insurance adjusters, which gives them the upper hand.

Once you hire a pedestrian accident attorney, you will eliminate that experience gap and eliminate the insurance company’s ability to trick you out of the money you deserve. By forcing the insurer to play fair, you will also likely speed up the timeline for settling your case, as they will be just as eager to end things and move on as you.

Every Pedestrian Accident Case Is Different

It’s important to remember that every pedestrian accident case is different. Several factors affect the amount of time it will take to settle your case, and nobody can give you an exact timeline. 

However, an experienced personal injury lawyer will review the details of your case and give you an informed answer about how long your case is likely to take.

At The Schiller Kessler Group, our experienced team will help get you the money you need as quickly as possible. Contact us today to schedule a free case review and learn more about the service you can expect to receive by reading our client testimonials.