There is no single answer, but the phases are predictable and knowing them makes the wait far easier to manage.

Phase one: medical treatment

A claim is rarely presented before you have finished treating or reached a stable point. Settling earlier means valuing an injury before anyone knows its full extent. This phase runs from a few weeks to many months.

Phase two: demand and negotiation

Once records and bills are collected, a demand goes to the insurer. Responses typically take weeks, and negotiation adds more. A straightforward claim can resolve here in one to three months.

Phase three: litigation

If the offer is inadequate, a lawsuit is filed. Discovery, depositions and expert work in Los Angeles County commonly put a trial date a year or more out. Most cases still settle during this phase, often at mediation.

What makes a case run long

The usual causes are not mysterious:

  • Disputed liability
  • Serious injuries that take a long time to stabilise
  • Multiple defendants or multiple insurers
  • Limited policy limits requiring other sources of recovery
  • A crowded court calendar

The deadline still applies

However long negotiation takes, the two-year filing deadline for most California injury claims does not pause. Claims involving a government entity generally require a formal claim within six months.

Talk to us

We will give you a realistic timeline for your specific matter at your free consultation.