This very possibly could be the most common question that I get as a Florida accident attorney. The answer obviously depends on many factors. First, the insurance is going to play a big part in this. If there is limited insurance with a bigger injury, then often times the cases resolve relatively quickly (and this could include weeks or a few months from the accident). Generally, if there is sufficient insurance, then the next large variable is how long the client treats for the accident, which will vary from injury to injury. If a client treats with their doctors for 6 months before being finalized, then obviously the case cannot resolve within 6 months. Once the client finishes treatment, the lawyer will obtain the medical records and that could be a two to six week process of getting the records (depending on what the treatment course was and how many different providers the client saw). Many cases with smaller injuries have treatment that lasts 2 to 4 months and thus resolves within 6 months. Once the case gets into pre-suit settlement negotiations, then if the case settles, the client generally would get their money within a few weeks from that point. However, if the client and insurance company cannot agree on a settlement without litigation, then a lawsuit would generally be filed. From the point in which a lawsuit is filed, a trial would generally not be set for at least one year. Within the court process are many other opportunities to resolve the case, the most significant being mediation which is generally court ordered and mandatory. While generally a trial would mark the end to the case and the point in which monies would be exchanged, there always could be an appeal by either side, which could delay things even more. In general, there is not an easy answer as to how long it takes to resolve a Florida automobile accident case and it varies from case to case.
