It generally takes two years, on the fast track, to go through the litigation process.  There is a year for the "processing" and approximately a year for the Courts to reach a trial date.  A case can settle at any time.  However, insurance companies rarely pay full value until they face the immediate prospect of trial by a reputable trial lawyer.  A vast majority of cases resolve within a month to six weeks prior to trial.  When the insurance company knows that they cannot put dealing with your case off any longer because a trial is imminent, then settlement is more likely for a "reasonable" number.