Questions about how long a case will take are far and away the most common questions we receive from clients. Predicting the length of a case is also unfortunately difficult to do. It is difficult to predict the length of a case with accuracy because there are many variables that we have no ability to control, including an insurance company’s motivations and the court schedule that we operate within.
Any given case can go to trial, and if it does, the timeline of that case will be long, measured in years. Most cases are settled before trial, and a settlement requires a defendant and their insurance to willingly come to the table with reasonable compensation to resolve the case. Though insurance companies are often well advised to attempt to settle a case and we can put strategic pressure on them to do so, they are under no legal obligation to resolve a case prior to a judgment being rendered against them.
Though the timeline of a case is difficult to predict with accuracy, there are generally windows of time in which a settlement discussion is more germane than others, such as after a demand letter is sent, after a complaint is filed, and after depositions are taken. We will keep you advised of such matters as your case proceeds. Rest assured that though the process is not the fastest, we do everything in our power to move a case along as quickly as possible.