When Will My Personal Injury Case Be Settled?
If you’ve already initiated a personal injury case, you may be wondering when it will be settled. The “clock” for a personal injury case typically starts ticking when a lawsuit is filed and legal actions need to take place. As for when your case might be settled, there is no standard answer because of the many variables involved with cases like this. However, there are some general guidelines that can give you a better idea of when to expect a personal injury case to be settled.
The Initial Discovery Process Comes First
Prior to settlement, the discovery process takes place. This is the time when all parties get things together, review evidence, take depositions from witnesses, and exchange requests for information or documents. There’s usually a lot of back-and-forth communication between personal injury lawyers and insurance companies during this process. Discovery can take anywhere from six months to a year. The time involved with this part of a personal injury case will also depend on the specifics of the case and the complexity of the circumstances involved. Court deadlines are another factor.
Then It’s Time to Negotiate
This is the point when settlement is typically discussed in a personal injury case. In some instances, a personal injury case may be settled very quickly, possibly within only a matter of days or weeks. This is more likely to happen if the circumstances involved are fairly straightforward and parties are generally agreeable. For instance, if you are suing a local business owner because you slipped and injured your back on their property, you may be able to settle quickly if there’s compelling evidence that proper signage wasn’t used or efforts weren’t made to clean up a spill.
What a Personal Injury Attorney Can Do for You
Without a personal injury lawyer, the other party’s insurance company or attorney may attempt to get you to settle quickly. This may seem like a good thing, but you could end up signing away your rights to pursue further legal action. A quick settlement without attorney advice could also mean settling for an amount that’s not fair based on the extent of your injuries and how you were impacted. Working with an experienced personal injury attorney means you’ll have access to the legal assistance you need to reach a fair settlement. Should this not be possible, a lawyer can help you prepare for a trial, the length of which can also vary based on the circumstances of your case.
