When you have been injured in an accident that was caused by the negligence of others, you know about the severe negative effects that an event like this can have on your life. If you have been experiencing these effects of personal injury as a result of an accident, then you’ll want to get the issue resolved as quickly as possible. Naturally, you will want to know how long a personal injury lawsuit will take so that you can plan ahead and be optimistic in your projections and predictions. This post will help you to understand more about the personal injury lawsuit process and how long you can expect it to take.
Hard to Tell
When it comes to personal injury lawsuits, it can be quite difficult to know how long exactly the lawsuit will take. Mostly, the length that the case will take will depend on a few different factors. One of those factors is how fast the patient/victim can recover from their injuries. For many, a full recovery won’t ever be possible. However, it is ideal for the victim to be able to participate in the trial and be in suitable condition for the lawsuit.
The other factor that is affected by the recovery of the victim is how much a lawsuit is worth for one of these cases. If you are looking to bring a lawsuit for an injury that you have experienced, you will want to wait until maximum recovery is reached. Only then can the full accounting of medical expenses and damages to the person’s life be accurately assessed. This will enable your attorney to fight for every penny that you deserve.
Fair Settlement Offer
One of the most important steps in the process of a personal injury lawsuit after the victim has recovered as well as possible is the fair settlement offer. A fair settlement offer refers to the ability of an insurance company or another party to offer what they feel is fair compensation for the injury and the effects that have occurred because of it. If a fair settlement offer is not able to be reached, then filing a lawsuit might be your only option.
Typically, lawsuits of this nature can take anywhere from one to three years. Even after the trial, the party that is being prosecuted will have the chance to appeal the ruling, which could prolong your case even further. The appeals process can take up to two years in addition to the original trial.
Depends on the Severity
One of the most influential factors in determining how long it will take to settle a case is how severe the injury is. In cases where the victim has suffered permanent damage and will need long-term severe care, the settlement will take much longer to reach. This is because it takes longer to assess the damage and the result of the accident. It’s important to be patient throughout this process, though it can be frustrating. Ultimately, there is no definitive answer to how long these cases can take but you would do yourself a huge favor to be well informed and prepared.
