How Long Does It Take To Settle A Pedestrian Accident?
The majority of pedestrian accidents in Utah settle between 6 months and 1 year after they occur if injuries are moderate. Minor cases can wrap in a few months. Serious injuries or disputed faults often take one year or longer, and some go to trial.
If a vehicle hit you while you were walking, you have two worries. One is to heal and the other is to make sure bills get paid. Settling a pedestrian claim takes time because your medical picture must become clear and fault must be sorted out. In Utah, many claims move faster when fault is obvious and injuries are mild.
We have written this guide that explains the usual timeline, what slows a case, Utah rules that matter, and what a pedestrian accident lawyer Utah can do to speed a fair result and protect your money while you focus on recovery.
Key points you should know
- Settlement time depends on medical recovery.
- Clear fault speeds up settlements.
- Serious injuries often delay negotiated offers.
- Utah filing rules matter for lawsuits.
- Insurance delays can add months.
- Hire a local lawyer early.
- Keep good notes and receipts.
- Settlement may be reduced by your fault.
Typical Steps After a Pedestrian Accident
It is usually necessary to provide immediate care following a pedestrian accident, gather evidence, seek compensation, work with the insurer, negotiator, and possibly file a lawsuit. For minor injuries, that chain can be short.
If you only need a clinic visit and a few follow-up checks, an insurer may offer a fair amount within a couple of months after bills arrive. For moderate injuries that need weeks of therapy, insurers wait until your condition stabilizes. They do not want to pay and then discover you need more treatment.
When injuries are severe, you may have surgeries, months of rehab, or ongoing care. Insurers then want medical reports that estimate future costs. That takes time and often expert input. If fault is obvious, the case still moves faster. An insurance company may investigate fault by seeking witness statements, traffic camera footage, and a police report. That adds weeks.
Medical history – the most important factor in pedestrian case settlement
Insurance companies base most offers on medical records and bills. They want to know what you have already spent and what you will need in the future. That is why doctors’ notes, test results, and bills matter. A quick clinic visit with no follow-up usually leads to a faster settlement. Ongoing treatment, recurring pain, or a likely need for future surgery raises the value of your claim but also adds time.
Your medical provider can say when you reached a stable point in care. Lawyers call that maximum medical improvement. Once doctors give that status, your legal team can better estimate future costs. If a medical expert must project long-term needs, the expert will read records, review images, and write a report. That expert work is helpful but adds extra time.
Never skip medical visits to speed a settlement. If you do, the insurer may claim your injuries are minor and make a low offer. Also keep bills and receipts from rides to appointments and lost pay stubs. Those numbers matter in talks. A lawyer helps gather the records and asks medical providers about liens so your final recovery is not eaten by unpaid bills.
Why does your medical timeline matter in a pedestrian accident case?
Insurers want to know how you are going to do in the future before they agree to a big payout. If you are still undergoing treatment, they may say the final cost is not clear. That is why many lawyers wait until your doctor says you have reached a stable point in care. When it looks like you have healed as much as you will. That way the settlement can include future care, therapy, and any lasting problems.
If you settle too soon, you risk paying for future treatment from your own pocket. If you wait until your medical picture is complete, your lawyer can add projected costs for future care and lost wages. This often increases the number the insurer must pay. On the flip side, if your care is brief and fixed, insurers can calculate damages faster and may offer sooner.
Medical experts sometimes write reports to explain long-term needs. Those reports take time but strengthen claims. Your lawyer keeps track of medical bills, talks to doctors, and negotiates liens so you do not lose most of your recovery to unpaid bills. The point is simple: medical timing affects value, and rushing a settlement usually hurts you.
Fault, shared blame, and how that affects timing and money
Utah follows a system where the person’s share of fault reduces what they can get. If you are partly to blame, your award will be lowered by that percentage. If you are 50% or more at fault, you may not recover from the other party. Because of that rule, insurers look hard for reasons to reduce their share. If the other side claims you were texting, crossing outside a crosswalk, or otherwise distracted, they may cut their offer.
When blame is clear in your favor, the case moves faster and settlement is more likely. When fault is argued, expect a longer process: witness statements, police reports, and sometimes accident reconstruction experts.
Those steps add time but can be needed to prove your side. Keep early evidence like photos of the scene, skid marks, road signs, and the crosswalk. Names of people who saw the crash are worth their weight in gold. Your Utah pedestrian accident lawyer will use those items to reduce claims of shared blame and to keep timing as short as possible.
Hire a trusted pedestrian accident lawyer Utah: Chris Cockayne and his team
When a pedestrian claim is on your plate, a local lawyer helps you avoid costly mistakes and delays. Chris Cockayne leads Cockayne Law and focuses on injury and vehicle cases across Utah. He and his team handle the claim steps so you can recover, collect medical care, and keep evidence organized.
A local personal injury lawyers agency knows the courts, the insurers that operate here, and how long local cases usually take. They will gather reports, handle medical liens, work with doctors, and push the insurer to settle fairly once your medical picture is clear. If settlement stalls, they are ready to file and move through discovery.
Hiring early helps preserve witness contact information and crash evidence that fades with time. Cockayne Law has a record of representing Utah injury clients and can be a practical choice to keep your case moving while you heal.
FAQs
Can medical liens affect my settlement?
Yes. Medical providers or insurers may place liens on any settlement to cover bills. A lawyer negotiates lien amounts and ensures you do not lose most of your award to unpaid bills.
Should I accept the first insurance offer?
Not usually. First offers are often low. Talk to a lawyer who will evaluate the offer against expected future costs and lost income before you sign anything.
How long before an insurance company offers a settlement?
There is no set time. Some offers come in weeks for minor injuries. Typical offers arrive after a few months once medical bills and records are in. Complex injuries slow the process to many months.
