If you’re injured due to someone else’s negligence, you might be entitled to make a personal injury claim against them. Here’s a look at how long personal injury lawsuits take to settle.
How Long Does a Personal Injury Lawsuit Take to Settle?
Every personal injury case proceeds on its own timeline, but some general guidelines may apply.
- Where there’s ample evidence and it’s easy to show who is at fault, it might only take a few weeks to a few months to settle the claim.
- When it’s a complex case or there’s a liability dispute, it may take a few months to a year or so.
- If a case goes to trial, it could take a few years to resolve.
What Determines How Long a Personal Injury Lawsuit Takes?
Many factors dictate a personal injury lawsuit timeline including:
- the complexity of the case
- whether the defendant admits liability
- the value of the claim
- how severe the injuries are
- the number of parties involved in the claim
The Personal Injury Lawsuit Process
Although no one can say exactly how long your case will take, here’s a rough personal injury lawsuit timeline.
Initial investigations
First, an experienced personal injury attorney reviews the evidence e.g. medical records, photos, and accident reports to establish whether you have a claim.
This stage can take a few weeks to a few months, depending on the case complexity.
Negotiation stage
Your attorney notifies the defendant’s insurance company about your claim and settlement negotiations begin. How long this process takes depends on e.g. the defendant’s willingness to settle and the case complexity.
Many cases settle at this stage; however, your attorney won’t recommend a settlement figure to you unless it’s a fair and reasonable offer.
Discovery process
Once you file a lawsuit, both sides undertake a formal “discovery” process which means assessing all the evidence in more detail. This process lasts at least a few months.
The trial
Very few personal injury claims go to trial. If you do go to trial, though, this stage could take another few months to complete.
Is There a Time Limit for Filing a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Texas?
Typically, you only have two years from the date the accident occurred to file a personal injury lawsuit. If you don’t start a lawsuit by this deadline, you lose the legal right to do so.
Different time limits apply to certain types of personal injury cases e.g. asbestos-related claims, but in all cases, you should seek legal advice as soon as possible.
How The Alexander Law Firm Can Help With Your Personal Injury Lawsuit
If you have a personal injury claim, you need an attorney on your side. At the Alexander Law Firm, we’re committed to securing the maximum amount of compensation for our clients – contact us today on 1-800-350-5110 for a free case consultation.