Personal Injury Lawsuits: How Long Will This Take?

So, you just decided that you want to hire a personal injury attorney to help you fight your personal injury lawsuit. Now what? When can you expect your case to be won? Some people seem surprised that hiring an attorney will not instantly solve their case and grant them compensation. Unfortunately, this is just not the case. There are many factors that affect how long it will take for your case to be resolved. These are a few of those factors.

Your Medical Needs

The major first step of any personal injury case is getting your medical needs met. Sometimes being well enough to seek legal help can be a challenge. For example, if you fell in a parking lot and hurt your back, you may need extensive chiropractic care in order to be well enough to seek out a lawyer. Depending on the medical needs of the individual, healing can take a substantial amount of time and set back a case.

Demands and Negotiations

Once the legal process has begun there will be a talk between your lawyer and the lawyer of the company or person you are suing. They will make demands and try to negotiate out a settlement, which can take quite a bit of time. Some people are in negotiations for months. This sounds like a strenuous process, but even a few months in negotiations could take less time than waiting for a court date.

A Trial

Some people wait years before they are granted a trial. The actual process may take a few days to a week, but getting to court in the first place is the real challenge. This is probably why 95–96% of personal injury cases settle outside of court.

Appeals

After a decision has been made in court, some people choose to begin the court process over again by making an appeal. This process will eventually take you to another court of law where another decision will be made. Very few personal injury lawsuits get to the appeal stage.

In conclusion, the average personal injury lawsuit will last about three years. Some are settled much more quickly, others take several years to get justice. Discuss with your lawyer the amount of compensation that you are seeking, and what you could reasonably be happy with. While you may not want to settle for less than the full amount, it may be worth it to not have to deal with courts for years on end.

For more information about personal injury cases, contact a law firm like Winstein, Kavensky & Cunningham, LLC.

Share