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We’re all familiar with Aesop’s fable about the tortoise and the hare. The two animals are in a race that it seems the speedy hare will easily win. But the over-confident hare takes a nap mid-race, and the victor is the slower but more focused tortoise.
The story is a reminder that speed alone does not guarantee success. Hard work and determination often win the day. This is a difficult but important lesson to keep in mind if you have suffered a personal injury and are anxious for compensation: seeking justice is a slow process. Just how long it will take to settle your case depends on several different factors.
How Long It Takes To Settle A Case Depends On Several Factors
The time it takes to settle a personal injury lawsuit depends on several factors. The most important of these is the complexity of the case, the availability of evidence, how long it takes to heal from the conditions caused by the crash, and the willingness of the other parties involved to come to the negotiating table.
Typically, the more complex a case is, the longer it takes to resolve it. The longer it takes to sort through all the facts and figure out exactly what happened and who is at fault, the longer it is going to take to get all of the parties involved to come to the negotiating table and make a good-faith offer. Parties in complex disputes often like to minimize their role in the accident or injury in hopes that someone else will take the blame.
The second factor to consider is the availability of evidence. In order to maximize your compensation, you need strong evidence that shows how badly you have been injured and who was at fault. Gathering this information can take time, but the better evidence you have, the easier it is going to be to convince the responsible parties or a judge and jury that you deserve a significant payment to compensate you for your injury.
The final factor that has an outsize impact on the speed of settlement is the other party’s willingness to open their pocketbooks. Things go a lot faster if the other side takes responsibility for their actions and is willing to face the consequences of their mistakes.
Slow & Steady Win the Race
If you ever visit the United States Supreme Court building — perhaps with Chatham Gilder Howell Pittman’s Jefferson D. Gilder or Jamie W. Howell, Jr. who are members of the Supreme Court Bar — you will see many reminders of Aesop’s story about the tortoise and the hare. There are tortoises incorporated into the Court’s decor as a reminder that justice is a slow but very deliberate process. The Chatham Gilder Howell Pittman team has embraced this philosophy as well. We want justice for our clients, no matter how long it takes.
Speed Comes At A Price
Attorneys or insurance companies that promise to resolve your case in a matter of days are like the hare. Self-centered and boastful, they often care more about their own bottom line than an injured party’s well-being. The speed they strive for is often achieved by settling personal injury cases for far less than they are worth.
The Lawyers That Listen
At Chatham Gilder Howell Pittman, we are committed to maximizing the amount of money our clients in Shelby County, Tennessee, and Desoto, Marshall, Tunica and Tate counties in Mississippi get. This means fighting for justice rather than settling for a lowball offer.
If you are ready to work with an experienced team of attorneys who will listen to your story and get you the compensation you deserve, it is time to contact our office and set up a meeting.
