Getting hurt because of someone else’s mistake can turn your life upside down. Between medical visits, missed work, and constant stress, the last thing you want is confusion about the legal process. Yet many people start a personal injury claim without knowing what really happens next. That uncertainty can lead to delays, low offers, or costly mistakes.
This guide breaks down what to expect during a personal injury claim in clear, simple terms. You’ll learn how the process works, what steps matter most, and how to protect your rights, so you can move forward with confidence and focus on healing.
Those first three days can decide the strength of your personal injury claim. You may not have filed anything yet, but evidence is already fading and insurers are already gathering information. In 2023, employers reported 2.6 million nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses, even as the rate per worker hit its lowest level since 2003. High volume makes insurers fast and sometimes ruthless in how they screen new claims.
A personal injury claim usually moves through six stages: evidence in the first 72 hours, medical treatment and investigation, settlement talks, possible court, getting paid, and the final timeline from accident to check. Most claims settle before trial, but every phase affects your result.
Reno sits in a unique spot for injury claims. You get heavy tourist traffic, lots of casino and hotel incidents, and serious crashes on I‑80 and U.S. 395. That mix means insurers here see a high volume of cases and often take an aggressive stance on liability and damages.
Law firms that work in this environment every day understand those local patterns and the judges, doctors, and insurers involved. Reno Law Firm Carlson & Work has built systems around that reality, guiding clients through each step so small mistakes early on do not ruin a strong case later.
The adjuster’s job is to limit what the company pays, not to “check on how you’re doing.” They want a recorded statement while you are tired, medicated, or unsure. Simple lines like “I am okay” or “I did not see them until the last second” can haunt you months later when they argue you were not really hurt or were partly at fault.
When they call, you can be polite and still say you will only provide information in writing or through your attorney. That one choice keeps you from giving them free ammunition.
Video systems overwrite themselves, bruises fade, and witnesses move on with their lives. Dashcams and store security cameras often keep footage for only a few days. Bruising from a car crash can look much worse 48 to 72 hours later than it did at the scene.
Take photos of injuries and the accident location, save any video you can get, and write down names and contact details for witnesses. Think of it as building a small file you will hand to your future personal injury lawyer. That file becomes the foundation for everything that comes next.
Once you are stable, the focus shifts to treatment and proof. This is where the personal injury claim process really takes shape. You will see doctors, maybe physical therapists, and possibly specialists.
At the same time, your attorney will gather police reports, medical records, and any video or photo evidence, then piece together how the crash happened and who is legally responsible.
Keep every appointment and follow medical advice as closely as you reasonably can. Gaps in care are one of the first things insurers point to when they argue your injuries were minor or unrelated.
Your daily pain levels, sleep problems, or limits at work all matter, so consider a simple journal or notes in your phone describing how you feel and what you cannot do each day. This is quiet work, but it is where a strong case is built.
For most people, settlement talks are where the real money decisions happen. Almost every personal injury settlement grows out of a written demand letter backed by medical proof and clear numbers for lost wages and other losses.
A demand letter tells the story of your case: how you were hurt, what treatment you needed, how life changed, and what the law says the other side must pay. It usually ends with a number that is higher than what you truly expect to receive, because negotiations almost always move down.
In 2023, personal injury filings rose 66%, driven by mass torts, but the vast majority still settled before trial. Insurers cannot try every case, so a well-documented demand often gets real attention, even if the first offer is insultingly low.
Sometimes the insurer simply will not come close to a fair figure, especially where there is serious, permanent harm or a dispute about who caused the crash. Filing suit is often less about racing to trial and more about turning up the pressure. Only about 7% of medical malpractice claims ever reach a jury verdict; the rest end earlier in the process.
Personal injury cases for car crashes and falls follow similar patterns. Litigation tells the insurer you are willing to go further than most people, and that often leads to higher offers at mediation or just before key court deadlines.
If your case does go forward in court, expect a slow but structured process. There will be written questions, document exchanges, and depositions where each side answers questions under oath. A trial itself might last only a few days, but getting there can take a year or more.
Juries are not automatic friends of injured people. In medical cases, doctors win about three out of four trials, which shows how unpredictable verdicts can be. That risk is one reason your attorney will keep weighing any serious settlement offer against the cost and uncertainty of trial.
When a settlement or verdict finally happens, the gross number is not the same as what ends up in your pocket. Understanding the math ahead of time prevents nasty surprises.
Most personal injury attorney agreements use a contingency fee. That means the lawyer gets a set percentage of whatever they recover, often higher if the case went all the way to trial. Out of the total, medical providers or health insurers may also be repaid through liens, and case costs such as filing fees or expert reports are reimbursed. A good firm will negotiate many of those medical liens down. That work can turn an average result into a much better net recovery without changing the top-line number at all.
For most people, money paid for physical injuries, medical bills, and pain and suffering is not taxed under federal law. Amounts clearly tied to lost wages or certain types of punitive damages may be taxable. It is worth asking both your lawyer and a tax professional how your specific personal injury claim will be reported so you do not spend every dollar the day the check clears.
People often ask how long a personal injury claim timeline really is. A rough answer is that minor soft tissue cases may wrap up in three to six months once treatment ends. Moderate cases with imaging, injections, or some dispute on fault regularly take nine to eighteen months.
For crashes that cause surgery or permanent disability, eighteen to thirty‑six months is not unusual. Remember that courts are still catching up after the big spike in filings in 2023, and that backlog can stretch things further. Throughout, steady communication with your lawyer and quick responses to document requests can shave weeks or months off the total time.
A personal injury claim is less about one dramatic court day and more about many small choices made over months. Protecting evidence early, getting consistent treatment, and being realistic yet firm in settlement talks all matter. With clear information and the right help, you can move through each phase with far less stress and a much better chance of a result that actually feels fair.
Do I really need a lawyer for a smaller case?
If your medical bills are low and you fully recover, you might settle directly. The moment there is lasting pain, time off work, or any argument about fault, having counsel usually leads to a better result, even after fees.
What if I was partly at fault for the crash?
Most states still allow recovery if you share some blame, but your money is reduced by your percentage of fault. An attorney can often argue that your share should be lower than the insurer claims.
Can I use health insurance while my claim is pending?
Yes, and you usually should. Your health insurer may later ask for reimbursement from your settlement, but your lawyer can often negotiate that amount down.
How do I know if an offer is fair?
A fair range usually covers all medical bills, clear lost wages, and something meaningful for pain and loss of enjoyment of life. Comparing your case to similar ones in your area helps decide whether to accept or push.
What happens if I cannot work during the claim?
Document every missed day, reduced shift, and job change. Those records support a claim for past lost wages and can also justify money for future loss of earning capacity if your injuries limit long‑term work.
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