How Long Do Bicycle Accident Cases Take in Louisiana?

How long do bicycle accident cases take in Louisiana? The length of time a bicycle accident case takes in Louisiana can vary widely and depends on the unique details of your case.

A New Orleans bicycle accident lawyer can look at your case and help estimate how long they think it may go based on the complexity of your accident.

Factors That Can Affect the Length of Time Before Your Case Settles

While most cases are resolved within a few months to two years, more complex cases can take significantly longer. Several factors contribute to this, including liability disputes, the severity of injuries, insurance coverage, and cooperation from the defendant. 

Since bicycle accidents often result in more severe injuries, the financial stakes are typically higher. This can extend how long your Louisiana bicycle accident case takes for several reasons. Your attorney may wish to extend the timeframe to see if additional injuries come up as time goes on, while insurance companies may extend the time in hopes that you’ll settle for a lesser amount. 

Each case is unique, and the timeframe is never guaranteed. While you may be tempted to jump at the first settlement offer, your attorney is there to look at the offer and help you determine the best course of action, and sometimes that involves waiting. 

Why Medical Recovery Affects How Long a Bicycle Accident Case Takes in Louisiana

After a bicycle accident, you may be dealing with severe injuries. It is often recommended that a case not be settled until a victim has reached maximum medical improvement (MMI).

This is the amount of time it takes for your injuries to start improving versus getting worse. Other reasons recovery affects the timeline can include:

• Need for surgeries or follow-up procedures
• Length of physical therapy or rehabilitation
• Time needed for specialists to deliver final diagnoses
• Recovery delays due to complications
• Importance of documenting long-term or permanent injuries

Waiting for the MMI, undergoing all treatments as recommended by your physician, and documenting long-term injuries all affect your case, and if pursued correctly, could increase the amount of damages that you may be entitled to.

Fault and Liability Disputes May Affect Timelines

The timeline for how long a bicycle accident case takes in Louisiana can be impacted by disagreements over fault and liability. In Louisiana, the law adheres to a pure comparative fault system (Louisiana Civil Code Article 2323). This means that your total damages awarded would be reduced by your percentage of fault. 

In the case of bicycle accidents, there are several potential liable parties. These may include the driver, municipalities, and manufacturing companies. If there are disputes as to who is liable or if multiple parties are liable, it can increase the overall timeframe before a case is settled. 

If you, the cyclist, are blamed for the collision, it can take additional time as you’ll need to prove that you are not at fault to be awarded full damages for your injuries.

One of the many benefits of hiring a New Orleans personal injury lawyer is that they will use their experience to help determine fault and apply their legal know-how to prove it. 

Insurance Company Tactics Can Influence Case Duration

Insurance companies know how to delay settlements, and they often do this in hopes that you will accept a lesser settlement. If your case is particularly high-value, such as involving a severe injury, they may intentionally extend the amount of time that the case drags on. 

Common tactics insurance companies use can include requesting repeated documentation, disputing medical necessity, arguing liability, or being slow to respond. Your attorney should be familiar with these tactics and be prepared to counter them.

Your New Orleans personal injury attorney knows how to keep momentum in your case and knows how to keep things moving forward. Their primary goal is to help you settle as quickly as possible for the maximum amount, and they will represent you in front of a judge if the other parties involved are not compliant. 

Your Case Could Close Quicker

While many cases take several years to close, there are instances where fair settlements can be reached quickly. If the details are straightforward, your case can be resolved in as little as a few months. Some ways these cases can close faster include:

• Clear-cut liability with no disputes
• Witness statements and police reports that corroborate your story
• Minor to moderate injuries with short recovery times
• Responsive insurance companies
• No disputes on medical bills and what is medically necessary
• Substantial evidence, including photos, video, or computer data from your bike, if available

Although it may seem ideal to close your case as quickly as possible, it must be carefully reviewed by your attorney to ensure you are not accepting a lesser settlement than you deserve. It is a careful balance of reducing how long your bicycle accident case takes, without sacrificing the amount you deserve.

You Can Help Your Case Settle Faster While Still Receiving the Maximum Compensation

Despite the fact that so many factors can delay your compensation, there are ways that you can help speed up the process while still maintaining the ability to receive every penny you are entitled to. These can include:

• Following medical treatment plans consistently
• Keeping all receipts and medical records organized
• Avoiding gaps in treatment
• Communicating regularly with your attorney
• Staying off social media during the claim
• Responding promptly to information requests

Your attorney is here to help advocate on your behalf, but helping them along the way increases the speed at which your case can settle. Sticking to your medical plan and maintaining open and honest communication with your lawyer is in your best interest.

Scott Vicknair Injury Lawyers is Here to Help You Settle Quickly and for Every Penny Your Case Is Worth

The first step in determining how long your bicycle accident will take in Louisiana is finding a quality lawyer who values your time. 

Call our team at Scott Vicknair Injury Lawyers today for your free consultation to get started on your case.