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When you’re out of work and the medical bills keep coming, “how long will this take?” is one of the first questions you’ll ask. The honest answer is that it depends. Some claims settle within months. Others take a year or more, especially when they go to court.
What you can know is how the process unfolds and what tends to speed it up or slow it down.
The first stage is getting better, and it often sets the pace for everything else. Most lawyers recommend waiting to settle until you reach maximum medical improvement, the point where your doctors can say how fully you’ll recover and what future care you’ll need.
For a minor injury, that may take a few weeks. For a fracture, surgery, or back and spinal cord injury, it can take many months. Settling before then risks accepting money that won’t cover future treatment.
While you recover, your lawyer gathers evidence: crash reports, witness statements, photos, medical records, and bills. Once treatment stabilizes, they assemble a settlement demand that lays out liability and the full value of your losses.
Cases involving commercial vehicles need more investigation. A truck accident lawyer may need to obtain driver logs, maintenance records, and electronic data before making a demand.
After receiving a demand, the insurer reviews it and responds, usually with a lower counteroffer. Negotiations can go back and forth for weeks or months. Many claims resolve at this stage, particularly when liability is clear and the injuries are well documented.
Our guide to dealing with insurance companies after an accident explains the tactics that can slow this stage down.
If the insurer won’t make a fair offer, the next step is filing suit, usually in the State Court or Superior Court of Chatham County. Under O.C.G.A. § 9-11-12, the defendant generally has 30 days after being served to file an answer.
Georgia’s 2025 tort reform added a new step that can affect timing. If a defendant files a motion to dismiss before answering, discovery is paused until the court rules, and the statute directs the court to decide the motion within 90 days after briefing ends.
Discovery is the evidence-sharing phase. Both sides exchange documents, answer written questions, and take depositions. Georgia court rules generally allow about six months for discovery after the answer is filed, though judges often extend it in complex cases.
Many cases settle during or after discovery, often through mediation with a neutral third party. If not, the case is set for trial. The State Court of Chatham County holds four terms of court each year, and the court’s calendar affects when a trial can be scheduled. Our guide to Savannah courts and filing a personal injury lawsuit covers how the local system works.
After trial, either side may appeal, which can add a year or more.
Several factors can make a case move faster or slower:
Insurers sometimes make quick offers precisely because they know you need money now. Accepting too early can leave you paying for future surgery or therapy out of pocket. In most cases, patience leads to a more complete recovery.
That said, you can’t wait forever. Most Georgia injury claims must be filed within two years, and claims against the government have much shorter notice deadlines. Our guide to the statute of limitations for personal injury cases in Savannah explains those limits.
Founding attorney Benjamin Clary has spent 13 years guiding injured Georgians through every stage of the claims process, from the first call to the courtroom. He holds a Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent rating and handles every case on a contingency fee basis.
A car accident lawyer at our firm can give you a realistic picture of how long your case may take. We also handle truck accident cases in Hinesville and across the region. To discuss your situation, a personal injury lawyer at our firm can review your case for free.
Contact us today to schedule your free consultation.
