Your personal injury case could take a few months to resolve, or you could go to trial and receive compensation a year or more after you file your lawsuit. Each case must follow specific steps to reach a settlement or obtain a court ruling, and there is no way to determine how long this process might take. Every personal injury case is different. It is not possible to determine exactly when your case will be resolved or even if you will have to go to trial. Complex cases may take two to three years, while other cases may take around a year.
Very simple cases can be resolved in a matter of weeks when accountability is very clear. As mentioned before, an injury lawsuit can take an average of two years to reach trial. However, if your case is complex, it could take even longer. Trials can last for different periods of time, but most last from a couple of days to a week. At trial, your lawyer and defense attorney will call witnesses, present evidence, formulate objections, and cross-examine witnesses called by the other party.
Once both parties have rested, the case will be sent to the jury for a decision. Jury deliberations can last a few hours or a couple of days. Once the jury reaches a verdict in favor of you or the defense, they will read it in court. Most claims are resolved within six months to two years, although some can be resolved more quickly through efficient negotiations. Often, resolving a personal injury case takes longer than people would like or than your personal injury attorney will tell you.
Our research shows that the average is around 1.5 years from the day the accident occurs to the day the accident victim receives their check. But remember, this is an average. Some personal injury cases are resolved in just a few weeks, while others can drag on for years, some lead to litigation, and in some cases, clients lose outright and are left without recovery, either because the defendant is not responsible, no coverage is available, or there are no damages. There is no perfect calculator for determining the duration of a case (although we could try to create one), but let's explore the most important factors. The short answer is that a personal injury lawsuit can take anywhere from several months to several years, depending on whether the case is resolved, goes to trial, or is appealed.
Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers is a personal injury law firm in Houston, TX that fights for accident victims. By having an experienced personal injury attorney on your side, you can focus on your recovery while they deal with the legal complexities of your case. Not only is this essential to your health and well-being, but it also plays an important role in your personal injury case. If you were recently injured, schedule an appointment to meet with an experienced personal injury attorney to discuss your claim today. Working with a personal injury attorney with experience negotiating outside the courtroom and presenting cases to the courts can help accelerate your case schedule.
Because most personal injury cases settle without a trial, don't lose hope of reaching a settlement even after a lawsuit has been filed. Once you investigate your incident, your personal injury attorney will draft a formal letter of demand addressed to the appropriate insurance companies or other parties responsible for your damages. The lawyer's negotiation skills and understanding of the insurance company's tactics are vital to ensuring favorable personal injury settlements. Claims for minor to moderate injuries are generally resolved within several weeks to a few months, while claims involving serious or catastrophic injuries can last for years. If you or your personal injury attorney cannot reach an agreement on your claim or file a lawsuit before the statute of limitations expires, you will lose your legal right to seek compensation for the damages you have suffered.
Your personal injury lawyer can help you better understand each of these factors in your case and how they can affect the outcome and schedule. As soon as possible after suffering a personal injury, you should ask your attorney to notify the at-fault party's insurance company of your intention to formally file an injury claim and seek financial recovery. Understanding the process of a personal injury claim from your initial consultation to the time you finally go to trial can help you understand how long your case may take. A proactive and well-organized approach to these steps can significantly influence the timeline for resolving a personal injury case.
Consulting from experienced personal injury attorneys ensures that you receive the best possible results and comprehensive support during the legal process...