How long do personal injury cases take?
How long your personal injury case takes depends on whether you settle or sue. It takes months to prepare for a case to go to trial. From the date of filing the lawsuit to the date of the verdict, the legal process for a personal injury lawsuit can last for one or more years. It’s good policy to try to reach an agreement outside of court because personal injury settlement agreements generally can be reached more quickly and inexpensively than trial verdicts.
But, if your insurance company refuses to accept liability for your accident or they feel you’re asking for too much money, they may deny your request for settlement. Whether you settle in or out of court, however, you’ll need an attorney who is very familiar with this area of the law, has experience working with and suing insurance companies, and has an excellent record in terms of winning past cases.
In Los Angeles County, personal injury attorney, Greg Yates, has one of the highest success rates when it comes to winning personal injury settlements, awards, and jury verdicts. With more than 30 years of experience, Mr. Yates approaches each case, whether big or small, with the same dedication to achieving the best possible results for his clients.
Here’s what it depends on
There is really no straightforward answer to the question of how long it takes to settle a personal injury case, but the basic stages of the legal process in a personal injury case are usually the same in every case:
- Get medical treatment
- Choose a lawyer to represent you — litigation begins when you hire an attorney to represent your interests
- Your lawyer will determine the strength of your case after interviewing you about the accident, reviewing other documentation such as medical records, bills, witness statements
- The lawsuit is filed
- The discovery period involves a formal investigation of the facts pertaining to the lawsuit and an exchange of information/evidence between the two opposing parties
At point in this process, negotiations can take place between the opposing parties to reach an agreeable settlement. However, if your injuries are severe and will require medical treatment and care into the future, your lawyer may recommend taking the case to trial.
Reaching settlements
Most personal injury cases are settled before trial. At any time during the legal process, the parties involved can agree to a negotiated settlement.
It’s important to retain the services of an experienced personal injury attorney who can advise you whether it is appropriate to settle or to sue, especially if you’ve experienced serious injuries. Los Angeles personal injury lawyer, Greg Yates, has been very successful in recovering millions of dollars for his clients and their families as a result of personal injury settlements.