How long before settlement

my mom is involved in a lawsuit against a women who rear-ended her. she has suffered permanent nerve and muscle damage (and has neurologist reports to prove this). Her car was totaled and since then (2 years ago) she has not been the same person. She's constantly in pain and there's nothing she can do about it (except take painkillers, which she refuses to do because she doesn't want to become addicted).

She and her lawyer have filed a lawsuit against the other person's insurance company. How long does this take before she will see any settlement or judgment? Also, is there a normal amount that she can expect for injuries such as hers? I just have a fear that she will not be fairly compensated for the pain and loss of quality of life she has endured. Thank you!

kkish

The reason I answered your posting is to say that if I were working on this case for the at-fault party, I would not have a hard time proving that your mother is responsible for alot of her pain and suffering by her refusal to follow reasonable and appropriate medical advice.
This business about not taking the pain medications because she doesn't want to get addicted is doing one thing for sure and another thing apparently.
First, pain begets pain. Your mother is creating more pain, more inflammation, more loss of normal functioning by not allowing her body to rest from the pain and to heal; she is interfering with her own recovery.
Secondly, sacrificial suffering is called 'martyr'-ing behavior, and has nothing to do with the accident--your mother was that way before she was in the accident, bravely suffering, and being admired for her sacrifices, even if she is the only one admiring her selfless behavior. Patients with this martyr complex are the most difficult to treat and get well.
So, if you want Mom to stop suffering, have a heart to heart with her and tell her to get with the medical program and stay with it. Then, maybe someone can determine what's residual damage from the accident from what she is doing to herself.
I'm not trying to be rude, I'm telling you honestly, if I were working for the at-fault insurance company on this claim, I would go after this aspect of your mother's injuries and expenses. Too many times people with your mother's lingering complaints are just fine and dandy when that check gets in their hands; you can't blame the other side for wanting to know the truth about the injuries and it's going to be documented in your mother's records that she is refusing to take the medication and follow the doctor's orders. This won't look good.
Consider it a word to the wise.

I can understand your Mothers feelings of becoming addicted as well as fear of dependance of covering up the pain.
I have been injured since Jan. 2001 and I am going for the Trigger Point injections. I have been on anti-depressants constantly since July.

The pain killers only mask the pain and I have four children as well. So being spaced out and sleepy all the time is not always an option when I have others that are not able to care for theirselves yet have had to adapt to a Mother that is out of it because of pain.

Maybe your Mother should ask about the trigger point injections, if this is a option at all for her. I know I am not much help however, I don't feel brave for eduring the pain. I feel cheated that someone at no fault of mine inficted all the turmoil in my family as well as myself. No Brave I am not, Hurt. Yes!

Momoffour!!! Thank you for your support. You sound just like her. No pain killer around can change the fact that she can't go on long car trips without being immobile the next day and taking a pill is not helping her with the stiffness and stomach problems that she has (which is a result of damage to a gastroentestinal nerve). THe neurologist did mention back surgery at some point to attempt to help, so she may have that in the future. However, the other insurance company refuses to pay any medical bills until the case is settled, so she is hoping for a quick settlement as she doesn't have her own medical insurance and the bills are piling up.

I will mention the trigger point injections to her. At this point, anything could help.

Thanks again,
Kristy