Have you recently suffered an injury on the job? Do you wonder how long it would take to reach favorable workers’ comp settlement amounts for your accident? If so, then you need to learn more about the overall process regarding workers’ compensation settlements.
The most commonly asked question is How long do workers’ comp settlements take? The answer depends on a few different factors. It depends on your injury, the evidence you have, the attorney you hire, and so much more.
See below for an in-depth guide on how long workers’ comp settlements generally take, as well as other info you should know for the process ahead.
How Long Do Workers’ Comp Settlements Take?
If you have been injured on the job, then you’re most likely wondering how long it would take for you to settle with your employer’s workers’ comp insurance provider. The answer depends on a variety of factors within your specific case.
Here are a few things that could play a role in the length of your workers’ comp settlement:
- The costs of your medical bills: Hospital stays, rehabilitation costs, doctor visits, medication, ambulance rides (if applicable), and so on.
- Lost wages: Any income that you and your family have lost as a direct result of the injury/injuries that you have suffered.
- Your desired compensation: The more your asking for, the less willing insurance companies will be to initially pay it. They’ll fight as hard as they can to get you to settle for less than what you need.
These factors (and others) could lengthen your settlement process. That said, workers’ comp cases have been known to take anywhere from a few months to multiple years to settle.
Here’s the important thing to remember: it doesn’t matter how long the settlement is going to take. What are a few months/years to know that your family’s financial future is protected?
The important thing is not settling for any amount less than what you deserve. By hiring an experienced workers’ compensation attorney, you’re showing the insurance company that you’re geared for the long haul.
Why Hire a Lawyer for Your Case?
There are some out there that consider not using a lawyer while settling because they think it will help them keep more of the money they receive in the settlement.
However, if you choose not to hire a lawyer for your case, you’re more likely to settle for less than what you deserve. You might take the insurance provider’s initial offer (which you should never do) or let them compile evidence against you and get no compensation.
Let’s do some math. Say you decided not to hire a lawyer and were able to settle with the insurance company for $20,000. Sounds good, right? What if you could double your settlement amount?
With their experience, resources, and understanding of the legal system, a workers’ comp lawyer could help you wait it out for a settlement of $40,000 or more. Even if they get 25-percent of your settlement amount (the national average is 15%), you still have $30,000 to use towards your medical needs.
When it comes to workers’ compensation settlements, patience pays off. A workers’ comp lawyer can help you get life-altering compensation to help protect you and your family’s financial safety.
The Benefits of a Workers’ Comp Lawyer
Now that you’ve seen the calculations of what a worker’s comp lawyer can do for your case, here are a few of the benefits you’ll receive throughout the process.
1. Confidence in Your Case
Without an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer overseeing your case, you can’t hope to build momentum with the opposing insurance companies.
A reputable lawyer will help you compile as much evidence as possible using their extensive resources and network. This will help you have more confidence that you’ll receive the settlement amount you initially set out to.
Peace of mind is a valuable thing during a workers’ comp settlement. Since they can take up to 2 years to settle, you’re cutting out a tremendous amount of stress by hiring a lawyer.
2. Focus on Your Recovery
Even though you’re in the middle of a settlement, the compensation shouldn’t be your top priority.
Your long-term health should be your top priority. You shouldn’t have to cut down on medical attention due to a lack of financial support. Doing so might turn your injury into a lifelong disability.
Instead, your lawyer will take over your case so that you can focus on your recovery, knowing that you’ve increased your chances of getting the settlement you need.
3. Communication With the Insurance Company
Perhaps the biggest risk of not having a workers’ comp lawyer representing you is that you’d be the one communicating back and forth with them.
Far too many people ruin their case while communicating with the opposing insurance company, who is professionally trained to sniff out opportunities to sabotage your case.
Your workers’ comp lawyer will take over any communications from this point forward. They’ll give you step by step instructions on how to conduct yourself moving forward.
Find the Perfect Workers’ Comp Lawyer for Your Case
To answer your question of “how long do workers’ comp settlements take?”, it’s best to expect a lengthy process and be pleasantly surprised if the case takes a smaller amount of time.
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