There's no single answer, but many San Diego injury cases resolve somewhere between a few months and well over a year. Straightforward claims with clear liability and modest injuries can settle faster. Serious injuries, disputed fault, or a lawsuit take longer.
The biggest factor is your medical treatment. A good attorney usually won't push to settle until you've reached what doctors call maximum medical improvement, meaning you've recovered or your condition has stabilized. Settle too early and you can get stuck with future bills the insurance company won't touch. So a case tied to a broken bone that heals in three months moves faster than one involving surgery or a back injury that needs ongoing care.
Other things that stretch the timeline: how quickly the insurance adjuster responds, whether the other side disputes who was at fault, and how many parties are involved. A car accident with two drivers is simpler than a truck accident with a company and its insurer fighting over blame.
One deadline matters no matter what. Under California Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1, you generally have two years from the date of injury to file a lawsuit. Claims against a public entity, like a city or county, can carry much shorter deadlines, sometimes just months, so don't wait.
This is general information, not legal advice, and every case is different.
Want a real read on your timeline? Call Joe Crudo at (858) 622-7280 or reach out through our contact page. The consultation is free.