When you have a loved one who dies because of the carelessness or negligence of another person, then you may be entitled to compensation. Wrongful death lawsuits are filed by spouses or family members of the deceased.
When you file a lawsuit, you may wonder how long it will take to settle. After all, the court process can take time. Some lawsuits can last for months or years, while others may settle quickly. It is difficult to determine how long a case will take but some factors may change the speed in which you receive your settlement.
Factors Behind a Quick Settlement
In cases where there is a clear liability, insurance companies may settle quickly. If there is no chance that they are going to win the case, then there usually isn’t any point in spending the money on legal fees. Instead, they want to settle as quickly as possible.
Also, in smaller cases that may not have a large payout, they may be quicker to settle. After all, it costs them less to settle than it does to spend money on lawyers, legal fees, and other costs associated with the trial.
Reasons a Settlement May Take Longer
Cases that involve an investigation take longer. Not all accidents have witnesses and likewise, witness testimony is not the only proof that a wrongful death suit requires. An expert may need to investigate the wrongful death. In the case of car accidents, for instance, you may have to prove that the other driver was at fault. If no one was there to witness it, you cannot claim that the other driver was speeding without the help of an expert. Expert witnesses and investigators can decide what happened to cause a person’s death and whether another party is at fault. It simply takes more time.
Experts are also needed to help determine how much the survivor is owed in the lawsuit. When you file a wrongful death lawsuit, you may be able to receive the income that you would have received if your loved one were still alive. This requires an economist to figure out how much money you would have been provided.
Wrongful death claims can be complex, and you can’t always expect a quick settlement, even if you know that you deserve compensation.