If you need to settle a Personal Injury Case its always better to have representation. After an accident, one of the first questions injured people ask is, “How long will my case take to settle?” While every situation is unique, understanding the factors that influence the timeline can help you prepare for what to expect. In Oklahoma, a personal injury case can resolve in a matter of months—or it can take more than a year—depending on the circumstances, medical treatment, and how the insurance company responds. Although each case moves at its own pace, most Oklahoma personal injury claims follow a similar progression. How long the settlement takes often depends on three key stages.
1. Medical Treatment and Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI)
Before you can settle a personal Injury Case its important that you are done treating. A case cannot be accurately valued until your doctors understand the full extent of your injuries. For this reason, personal injury lawyers typically wait until you reach maximum medical improvement, meaning your doctors believe you have healed as much as possible.
- Minor injuries may reach MMI within a few weeks or months.
- More serious injuries involving surgeries, therapy, or long-term care may take several months or longer.
Because medical treatment directly affects the value of your claim, most settlements do not occur until this stage is complete.
2. Investigation and Settlement Negotiations
Once medical records are collected and damages are calculated, your attorney sends a demand package to the insurance company. This begins the negotiation process.
The insurance company may:
- Respond quickly with an offer
- Request additional documentation
- Delay negotiations
- Dispute liability or the extent of your injuries
Negotiations can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months, depending on how cooperative the insurance company is.
3. Filing a Lawsuit (If Necessary)
Not all cases settle before litigation. If the insurer refuses to offer a fair amount, your attorney may recommend filing a lawsuit. This starts a new timeline that includes:
- Discovery
- Depositions
- Expert evaluations
- Mediation
- Possible trial
Litigation can add six months to a year or more to the case, but many cases still settle before ever going to trial.
What Can Speed Up or Slow Down a Personal Injury Case?
Several factors affect how quickly a personal injury claim resolves:
Severity of injuries: More significant injuries require more medical treatment and often result in higher settlement demands, which insurers are slower to pay.
Liability disputes: If the other side argues you were partially or fully at fault, negotiations take longer.
Insurance company delays: Some insurers intentionally slow the process to pressure injured people into accepting low offers.
Need for experts: Cases involving accident reconstruction, long-term disability, or future medical needs often require additional time.
Court schedules: If litigation is necessary, Claremore courts can have crowded dockets.
Typical Settlement Timeline in Oklahoma
While no two cases are identical, general timelines look like this:
- Simple cases: 3–6 months
- Moderate cases: 6–12 months
- Serious injury cases: 12 months or longer
- Cases in litigation: Often 18 months or more
Your attorney’s goal is not just to settle quickly—it is to settle fairly. Rushing a case can leave significant compensation on the table.
Claremore Personal Injury Attorneys
If you were injured because of someone else’s negligence, an experienced Oklahoma personal injury lawyer can help manage treatment records, negotiate with insurance companies, and pursue the compensation you deserve. We guide clients through every step of the process and fight to resolve cases as efficiently and effectively as possible. For a free consultation with an attorney at Kania Law – Claremore attorneys‘ law office, call 918-379-4872. Or you can click here to ask a free online legal question.
