Claim timelines vary widely; typical stages include:
- Immediate aftermath (days-weeks): medical treatment, police report, initial insurer contact,
and early evidence gathering. - Investigation and treatment phase (weeks-months): adjusters evaluate liability, you complete
treatment or reach a medical plateau, and your attorney documents damages. - Demand and negotiation (months): after treatment stabilizes, a demand package with
medical bills, wage records, and legal argument is sent. Negotiations can take weeks to
months. - Litigation (if needed) (months-years): if settlement negotiations fail, filing suit starts a longer
process: discovery, depositions, expert reports, motions, and trial scheduling. Trials in
California can occur more than a year after filing, depending on court congestion.
Factors affecting duration: - Injury severity and medical recovery time.
- Complexity of liability (multiple parties, commercial defendants).
- Willingness of insurers to negotiate fairly.
- Court calendars and discovery disputes.
Best practice: do not accept a final settlement until you reach maximum medical improvement
(MMI) or have a reliable prognosis. Rushing risks under-compensating for future needs.