Timeline For A California Personal Injury Lawsuit
How Long Will It Take For Me To Obtain A Settlement?
Were you recently injured in an accident that resulted from the negligence or wrong doing of another person? If so, you may be entitled to compensation. This compensation enables you to recover the costs associated with your injuries such as medical bills or lost wages. The best way to ensure that you obtain a fair settlement is to hire a personal injury lawyer to represent you in bringing a lawsuit against the party responsible for your injuries.
Many are not aware of how long this process will take and tend to hold it off. The reality is that the timeline for such a case is very manageable with the right representation.
Timeline For A Personal Injury Lawsuit
In order to estimate how long your case will take, it is important to understand the steps that must be taken in order to obtain a settlement. Each case is unique but most cases follow the following steps:
- Accident Occurs: Even if you do not feel that your injuries are “too serious,” it is imperative that you seek medical attention immediately after sustaining your injuries. A trained medical practitioner will be able to assess the scope and extent of your injuries and initiate the necessary treatments. After receiving medical treatment, contact a personal injury attorney who can help you take your next steps.
- Investigation & Demand Letter: Your attorney will investigate the unique circumstances of your case by obtaining medical records, police reports and any other information that will bolster the support for your claim. Then, the attorney will often write a demand letter. This letter will display the facts of the case and damages sought to the responsible party. At this point, a settlement negotiation is already possible.
- Filing the Claim & Serving the Defendant: Once the claim is filed, there is a 30-60 day limit to serve the defendant with the lawsuit.
- Defendant’s Response: The defendant has 30 days to reply to the lawsuit. Settlement negotiations can also occur during this stage. If a settlement agreement is reached, the case will not have to progress to trial.
- Discovery: During the discovery process, attorneys ask questions, share relevant documents and interview parties with an association to the case such as witnesses and doctors. Negotiations for a settlement can still occur at this stage.
- Trial: The final step in the process only occurs if no settlement is reached. At this point, both parties will present their evidence. The outcome of the case is decided by a jury.
How Long Your Case Will Take
Since each case is unique, there is no standard answer for the amount of time each case will take. The exact amount of time is usually based on the extent of your injuries. However, a general rule of thumb is that small accidents require less time than large accidents since less is treatment and documents are required. It is also dependent on the possibility of reaching a settlement agreement. When an agreement is reached, cases can be settled relatively quickly. A case that is brought to trial should be expected to require more time. The only way to get an accurate estimate of the time and resources required of you is to hire an experienced personal injury attorney.
Call Napolin Accident Injury Lawyer
Filing a case and obtaining a settlement can be daunting task to say the least. That is why getting the right help is of utmost importance. What does it mean to get the ‘right help’? It means receiving expert advice, medical treatment and damage recovery. An experienced southern California attorney will do exactly that for you. Our legal team is equipped to help you recover all your damages, financial, medical, and emotional. Call us today to schedule your free consultation.
- Legal Remedies for Victims of Nursing Home Abuse in California - April 11, 2024
- Personal Injury Claims for Children Injured at School in California - April 11, 2024
- Seeking Justice for Wrongful Death Due to Medical Malpractice in California - April 11, 2024