[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/www.sherrodandbernard.com\/blog\/wait-time-after-demand-letter\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/www.sherrodandbernard.com\/blog\/wait-time-after-demand-letter\/","headline":"How Long After a Demand Letter Until I Receive a Settlement in Georgia?","name":"How Long After a Demand Letter Until I Receive a Settlement in Georgia?","description":"Understandably, most personal injury victims anxiously await each development in their case, including the response to their demand letters. When fault is clear and injuries are easy to prove, accident victims may receive a settlement check within a few months. By contrast, when evidence is limited or the...","datePublished":"2022-11-17","dateModified":"2024-12-30","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.sherrodandbernard.com\/blog\/author\/kenbernard\/#Person","name":"Ken Bernard","url":"https:\/\/www.sherrodandbernard.com\/blog\/author\/kenbernard\/","identifier":7,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/2c8989e3a6ded75e4fe0fae6e90fc6dfec65eaf7676e8cefa113ad6e8e2d6c66?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/2c8989e3a6ded75e4fe0fae6e90fc6dfec65eaf7676e8cefa113ad6e8e2d6c66?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Sherrod & Bernard, P.C.","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.sherrodandbernard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/SB-Logo-1.png","url":"https:\/\/www.sherrodandbernard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/SB-Logo-1.png","width":300,"height":109}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.sherrodandbernard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/legal-advise.jpg","url":"https:\/\/www.sherrodandbernard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/legal-advise.jpg","height":666,"width":1000},"url":"https:\/\/www.sherrodandbernard.com\/blog\/wait-time-after-demand-letter\/","video":{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"VideoObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=H5ZwKUPSWm0#VideoObject","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=H5ZwKUPSWm0","name":"How long does a personal injury case take? | Sherrod & Bernard","description":"The time that a personal injury case takes from the date of injury to a final resolution is determined by the client's time of physical recovery. We want to make sure our clients have made a full recovery from their injuries before entering negotiation phases of the case. \n\nOnce the doctor determines that a patient is through the healing process, then we will go to the next phase in handling the case, which is attempting to enter settlement negotiations with the appropriate insurance company.\n\nSome cases require lawsuits against the at-fault driver. This happens when the insurance company involved is simply being unrealistic about settlement evaluations. Cases that are in the court system usually take longer. \n\nAt Sherrod & Bernard, we will stay in touch with you every step of the way so you know where your case is at all times as it goes through the process. You will never be in the dark about where you are with your case.\n________________________________________________________\nSherrod & Bernard, P.C. - Personal Injury Lawyers in Douglasville\n8470 Price Ave \nDouglasville, GA 30134\nPhone: (770) 920 - 8350\nwww.sherrodandbernard.com","thumbnailUrl":["https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/H5ZwKUPSWm0\/default.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/H5ZwKUPSWm0\/mqdefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/H5ZwKUPSWm0\/hqdefault.jpg"],"uploadDate":"2019-02-08T23:36:15+00:00","duration":"PT1M14S","embedUrl":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/H5ZwKUPSWm0","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCNK4EK-AuNLyADEP1Gsgx7w#Organization","url":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCNK4EK-AuNLyADEP1Gsgx7w","name":"Sherrod and Bernard","description":"When you are in a legal bind, you need an experienced attorney you can count on to provide you with skilled representation and sound legal counsel. Every lawyer under the sun will tell you that he or she is the right person for the job, but you need a firm backed with a successful track record. You need the firm of Sherrod & Bernard, serving the Douglasville area.\n\nAfter attending the University of Georgia together, attorneys John Sherrod and Ken Bernard founded the law firm of Sherrod & Bernard, P.C. in 1992. From the very beginning, the goal of our firm has been to provide each and every client with the quality personal service and skilled representation they deserve. You can count on our work ethic and our commitment to our clients.\n\nYou need a highly skilled attorney to successfully resolve your legal issues. One of our lawyers can help. Schedule a free consultation by calling our Douglasville office at 770-920-8350.","logo":{"url":"https:\/\/yt3.ggpht.com\/uK-5K9pyHHwlk4D1Wclej9JOOudzsipnxVRsoc1u0fyFTl1Ykw0P1mMXhCw6PbtfZAwzpbuF_A=s800-c-k-c0x00ffffff-no-rj","width":800,"height":800,"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=H5ZwKUPSWm0#VideoObject_publisher_logo_ImageObject"}},"potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=H5ZwKUPSWm0#VideoObject_potentialAction","target":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=H5ZwKUPSWm0&t={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"},"interactionStatistic":[[{"@type":"InteractionCounter","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=H5ZwKUPSWm0#VideoObject_interactionStatistic_WatchAction","interactionType":{"@type":"WatchAction"},"userInteractionCount":57461}],{"@type":"InteractionCounter","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=H5ZwKUPSWm0#VideoObject_interactionStatistic_LikeAction","interactionType":{"@type":"LikeAction"},"userInteractionCount":1}]},"about":["Personal Injury"],"wordCount":1005,"articleBody":"Understandably, most personal injury victims anxiously await each development in their case, including the response to their demand letters. When fault is clear and injuries are easy to prove, accident victims may receive a settlement check within a few months. By contrast, when evidence is limited or the cause of injury is inconclusive, victims sometimes wait a year or more.At the end of the day, the time they spend waiting for a response depends on many factors and varies widely from case to case. No matter how long it takes, injury victims should have their accident reviewed by an experienced personal injury lawyer as soon as possible. This will ensure that they are well-informed about their rights and are not taken advantage of by opposing parties.The\u00a0personal injury attorneys at Sherrod & Bernard, P.C., are ready to help. Call us today for a free consultation.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWhat Is the Purpose of a Demand Letter?As the name suggests, a\u00a0demand letter\u00a0is a document sent by an injured party asking that the recipient of the letter pay them compensation.\u00a0In most cases, the letter is sent to the at-fault party\u2019s insurers. The letter should outline why the recipient is legally responsible, as well as the extent of the injured party\u2019s losses and what would constitute fair compensation. To that end, a demand letter may include details like:Date, time, and location of the accidentDescription of events leading up to the incidentInjuries sustained by the victim and their severityEffects of the injuriesTimeline of medical treatmentTotal expenses incurred by the victimWhat is the Timeline of a Personal Injury Lawsuit?Often, the at-fault party in an accident may agree to compensate injured victims for their medical care and other expenses without the hassle of a lawsuit. In fact, the vast majority of\u00a0personal injury cases\u00a0are settled before they are ever argued in court. Well-crafted demand letters play an important role in securing this result.However,\u00a0filing a lawsuit might be necessary if a fair settlement cannot be reached or if your claim\u00a0is denied by the at-fault party\u2019s insurers. The basic steps in a personal injury lawsuit normally include:Demand\u00a0Letter \u2013\u00a0Early on in the case, injured parties send a letter demanding compensation from the at-fault party. Ideally, this letter will be drafted by an experienced attorney.Filing a Personal Injury Lawsuit\u00a0\u2013\u00a0If a reasonable settlement cannot be reached with the at-fault party or their insurers, injured victims can file a lawsuit to seek compensation in court. The first document filed by a plaintiff is normally\u00a0 referred to as a \u201ccomplaint\u201d or \u201cpetition.\u201dIssuance and Service of Summons\u00a0\u2013\u00a0The defendants in the lawsuit are served with a summons, a document formally giving notice that a case has been filed against them.Await an Answer\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Once given notice, defendants have a limited amount of time to file their answer. Failure to do so can result in a default judgment against the defendant.Discovery and Depositions\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Discovery is a process during which the parties in a dispute exchange evidence related to the case. Collecting sworn out-of-court statements \u2014 known as depositions \u2014 of individuals with information relevant to the dispute is an important part of this process. Each side may want to collect depositions from drivers involved in the crash, witnesses to the accident, police officers dispatched to the scene, crash reconstruction experts, doctors who treated injured victims, and others.Settlement Negotiations \u2013\u00a0After discovery and depositions, each side will weigh the evidence collected in the case to reassess the possibility of a settlement. They will then attempt to negotiate an out-of-court settlement.Trial \u2013\u00a0If an out-of-court settlement cannot be reached, the case may need to be resolved in court. This represents a significant escalation of the case. Your attorney can help you weigh the benefits of seeking compensation in court.What Are Things That Might Delay a Demand Response?You may wonder why you have not heard back from the at-fault party or, more likely, their insurer after submitting your demand letter. Though a long wait may leave you understandably concerned, it normally does not mean there is something wrong with your letter. Common reasons you may not have received a response include:Case Overload \u2013\u00a0Insurers receive thousands of claims each day. Their adjusters are eager to deny as many of these as possible. Because claims must be denied for good cause, adjusters must investigate each one before responding to demand letters. Ultimately, the delay may simply be the result of a backlog.Uncertain Liability \u2013\u00a0Again, insurance adjusters are eager to deny as many claims as possible, but they may only deny claims for a good cause. Therefore, cases in which legal liability is uncertain may take more time to process. For example, adjusters may spend more time reviewing documentation, speaking to witnesses, gathering additional evidence, and examining the language of the governing insurance policy.Insurer Bad Faith \u2013\u00a0Insurance carriers have a\u00a0legal duty to handle insurance claims fairly. Even so, some insurers needlessly delay claims or deny them without justification. This is known as\u00a0insurer bad faith\u00a0and can lead to serious legal consequences.Is There a Deadline to File a Lawsuit in Georgia?Yes. In Georgia, the\u00a0statute of limitations\u00a0for personal injury cases gives you\u00a0two years from the date of your injury\u00a0to file a lawsuit seeking compensation. Failure to comply with this deadline almost always results in your case being dismissed in court.Visit Our Georgia Personal Injury Law OfficesContact an Experienced Personal Injury Lawyer TodayIf you are reading this page because you or a loved one were hurt in an accident, we hope you are receiving the medical care that you need and are making a strong recovery. We also hope that the information on this page has been helpful. If you would like to talk with\u00a0Sherrod & Bernard, P.C., about your situation, call us or contact us online. There is no charge to talk with us about your case."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/www.sherrodandbernard.com\/blog\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"How Long After a Demand Letter Until I Receive a Settlement in Georgia?","item":"https:\/\/www.sherrodandbernard.com\/blog\/wait-time-after-demand-letter\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]