Falling victim to a serious injury that is not your fault is an unfortunate experience. Aside from the physical injuries, it can not only have long-term consequences on your finances but also drain your energy worrying about the outcome of a potential personal injury lawsuit. Lawsuits are notorious for taking a long time to reach a desirable outcome.
When you have experienced a personal injury, you should make a well-informed decision, taking into consideration the ramifications of your legal actions. While most cases eventually settle, the most important question most people have in mind is the duration a lawsuit can take.
Lawsuits related to personal injury can last for a variable amount of time. While some may resolve within a matter of weeks, others might take longer, even years. The experienced personal injury attorneys at Rutter Mills in Virginia breakdown lawsuit timelines which will depend on several factors for the best outcome of your injury case.
Prompt Medical Attention
One of the foremost tasks to perform right after an unfortunate accident is to get medical attention for any possible injuries. It is equally significant for your health as well as any future insurance claims. Not getting medical attention on time can halt the progress of a potential lawsuit.
Timing of Legal Contact
After obtaining medical treatment for your injuries, the first thing to do is to contact a competent Personal Injury Attorney, especially if your injuries are significant. The severity of the injuries incurred as a result of the accident determines the duration of the litigation process. Prompt legal contact can help you get ahead of potential roadblocks in your case. While you can personally handle a small claim, it is advisable to hire legal assistance in all cases.
Scale & Severity
It is natural for the large-scale, more severe cases to take more time than smaller, easily manageable personal injury cases. While small claims with minor injuries settle in a few weeks, the larger ones require more thorough investigations, which may end up adversely affecting the timeline of your lawsuit.
Timeline of the Lawsuit
The lawsuit timelines can vary from case to case, but in a majority of cases, the legal process remains the same. After you hire an attorney, you will go through the following steps:
- Investigation of legal claims
- Investigation of medical records
- Filing the lawsuit in court
- Discovery phase of the lawsuit
- Trial
The timeline of your lawsuit also depends on two other factors that can positively or negatively influence the duration.
The first is the fact that not all of the lawsuits culminate in a trial. In some cases, the outcome may not be considered acceptable by the losing party, in which case they file an appeal. While it is uncommon, the trials that are subject to an appeal can become prolonged.
The second important thing to consider is mediation. Mediation or settlement outside of a court means your case will not have to move to a trial. It significantly reduces the temporal and financial burden on all parties involved.
