If you’ve been hurt due to someone else’s negligence, seeking compensation through a personal injury lawsuit could take anywhere from several months to several years. Unfortunately, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has caused many cases to take longer than usual. While these delays can be aggravating, remember that a delay does not necessarily mean you won’t receive compensation for your injuries.
Wondering what’s causing the holdups? Let the Nevada personal injury lawyers at THE702FIRM Injury Attorneys shed some light on why these delays are happening. Keep reading to learn more.
COVID-19 Delays Medical Treatment
When it comes to personal injury cases, it’s essential to wait until you’ve determined the full extent of your injuries before filing a claim, which could entail multiple doctor’s visits. Under normal circumstances, this can happen relatively promptly. But the COVID-19 pandemic has severely burdened medical providers across the globe, preventing people from getting the treatment and surgeries they need simply because there aren’t enough hospital beds to accommodate non-COVID patients.
In addition, many doctors’ offices are moving to telehealth services for more minor injuries. This makes it much harder for accident victims to see a doctor and get the treatment they need. You don’t want to file a personal injury claim until you understand the full extent of your medical costs. That can also delay your claim.
Backlog of Cases in Court
Another reason personal injury cases are taking longer to resolve is that the court systems are overloaded. Like many institutions, the courts had to adapt to the pandemic. In many courts, this meant putting all trials completely on hold except for essential criminal cases.
However, accidents continued to happen even with courts shut down, so now there’s a significant backlog of personal injury claims. It will take time for many courts to return to full capacity to start working through the cases.
Other Reasons Cases May Be Slow:
There are a few other reasons why personal injury cases are taking more time to resolve in 2021, including:
- Denied claim: If your initial claim against an insurance company is denied, you may need to file a personal injury lawsuit in civil court to seek the compensation you need. That means that your case would join the numerous other claims waiting to move through the courts.
- Large damages: Any case in which a plaintiff seeks significant compensation will take longer because the defendant will do everything possible to avoid making a large payout. This often means dragging the case out for as long as possible in an attempt to make you give up and accept a cheaper settlement.
- Increased time to reach maximum medical improvement: Many insurance companies won’t pay out a claim until a plaintiff reaches maximum medical improvement (MMI) after an accident. MMI is the point at which your doctor expects no further improvement to your condition. If you can’t reach maximum medical improvement because the pandemic makes it difficult for you to see a doctor, your case will take longer.
Contact a Personal Injury Attorney in Las Vegas Today
The personal injury lawyers in Las Vegas at THE702FIRM Injury Attorneys know how frustrating a delay in your case can be, but we’ll do everything in our power to expedite your claim and push for the results you deserve. Contact us today for a free initial consultation.
