How Long Does It Take to Settle a Personal Injury Lawsuit?

When you’ve been hurt because of someone else’s negligence, you can seek legal action to get justice. Your personal injury case can hold the negligent party accountable and you can recover compensation for the losses you’ve suffered. A personal injury lawyer can protect your rights and give you a better chance of a favorable outcome. When you’re beginning this process, you may wonder how long it will take to settle a personal injury lawsuit. Let’s take a look at what can affect this.

What Factors May Prolong Your Settlement?

There isn’t a set time for how long your lawsuit will take. It will vary for each person and the factors present in their case. These following points could contribute to the time it takes for you to reach a conclusion:

• Severity of Your Injuries. If you sustained minor injuries, it’s likely that the case will be settled quickly. If your injuries are severe, you may be in the hospital or need to undergo surgery. When your injuries require extensive treatment, your case may need more time.
• Reaching Maximum Medical Improvement. This ties into the severity of your injuries. Your lawyer will need to know what the costs of your injuries are, which means they’ll need to total the treatment that you need. This can be determined when you reach your maximum medical improvement, which is when you’ve recovered as much as you can. For some, this could be a complete recovery. Injuries that leave permanent conditions will not completely heal, but you will recover up to a point, like broken bones healing or recovering from a surgery.
• Investigation. When your lawyer is building your case, they’ll launch an investigation to find out who caused the accident, how it happened, and how you were hurt.
• Reaching a Settlement. Typically, personal injury cases are settled outside of court. Your lawyer may negotiate a settlement with the other party. If this is the case, then you’ll likely settle the matter more quickly than if your case proceeds to court.
• Deciding to Take Your Case to Court. If an acceptable settlement cannot be reached, then you and your lawyer will discuss taking your case to court. When you’re going to court, that makes the process longer.

During your case, you can always ask your personal injury lawyer how everything is proceeding. While they may not be able to give you an exact date when your case will be resolved, you may be able to get an estimate or know what the next steps are in the process.

What Is the Process of a Personal Injury Lawsuit?

Going to court has its own steps that will take time. When you’re taking your case to court, your lawyers and the other side’s legal team will need to go through certain steps. Let’s go over some of those steps.

• Discovery. When you’re going to trial, there will be a discovery period. This is where your lawyer will obtain evidence and build your case. This process can take months as they will need to go over documents, have depositions, and go over all the facts that are available.
• Motions. Before the trial, both sides may file motions regarding the case. It could be to exclude evidence or dismiss certain parts of the case. These will need to be dealt with before the trial.
• Trial. Then, you need to go through the trial process. Both sides will present their case. A trial can take a long time before the jury reaches a verdict.

When you’re taking your case to court, you may be nervous about being in the courtroom and are wondering how the process works. We’re here to answer your questions and help you prepare for court. We’ll go over what you can expect and how to conduct yourself in the courtroom. Our lawyers will do everything possible to get you a successful outcome.

After a verdict is reached, there’s also a chance for an appeal. If this occurs, then this could add even more time before the matter is resolved. We understand that the legal process can take a long time. We’ll be at your side every step of the way.

Get the Help You Need from Pittman Roberts & Welsh, PLLC

When you’re suffering from injuries and other losses because someone’s negligence caused an accident, you shouldn’t have to bear the burden of their mistake all on your own. Our lawyers in Jackson will stand up for your rights and advocate for your best interests. Get in touch with us today we can start fighting for you.