The aftermath of a personal injury is a stressful time. It could have been an injury at work due to unsafe equipment and procedures.
It could have been a negligent semi-truck driver. Or it could have even been an unsafe area in a shopping center that you recently visited.
Whatever the case may be, dealing with a personal injury situation is no easy thing. This is especially true when one considers that the subsequent personal injury lawsuit demands so much time and attention.
You’re doubtless asking yourself, “how long does a personal injury lawsuit take?” After all, you want to be done with all of this as fast as possible.
In this article, we’ll answer that exact question of how long does a personal injury case take, while also giving you information as to what to expect in the process.
How Long Does a Personal Injury Lawsuit Take?
According to government research, most personal injury lawsuits have an average processing time of two years. This is the time taken for the lawsuit to reach a conclusion.
Many personal injury lawsuits are settled out of court. This is a far shorter process than going to trial. If the latter happens, then you may have to prepare yourself to wait many more months.
What Are the Steps in a Personal Injury Lawsuit?
Now that you know that you can expect to wait at least twenty-four months for a satisfactory conclusion to your personal injury claim process, you may be wondering what is taking up all that time.
The first step in filing a claim is getting everything squared away with an attorney. You need to pick the right law firm to represent you (the more experience, the better). You have to explain the situation to them and present what evidence you have. Then, the lawyer has to agree to take your case.
In the second step, things start to pick up. The attorney will begin to make more official collections of evidence. Then, he or she will draft up the necessary legal documents and file the lawsuit. The other party will be notified.
The next stage is the discovery process, wherein both parties collect more evidence to be shared with each other. There may be some kind of mutually agreed-upon third party coming in to arbitrate the case if both parties are interested in a settlement.
But if a settlement cannot be reached, then the case goes to trial. At trial, the judge or jury will determine how much damages are awarded to the plaintiff. Read this helpful article to understand more about what damages are typically recovered in a personal injury lawsuit.
Personal Injury Lawsuits, Made Simple
There you have it. Now that you know how long does a personal injury lawsuit take and what to expect, you should be better equipped to navigate this tough legal process in the aftermath of your injury.
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