How Long Will My Personal Injury Lawsuit Take?
Because every accident scenario is unique, so too is every personal injury case. That means if you were hurt through no fault of your own and you intend to take action, there’s no standard timeline for your case to follow.
The duration of any given action ultimately depends on a variety of factors. Let’s take a look at some of the biggest influencers here:
1. The Severity of Your Injuries
Personal injury plaintiffs are advised against concluding the settlement negotiations until they have reached maximum medical improvement (MMI). It’s not until you’ve reached MMI that you can be sure of the total extent of the damages. As such, more severe injuries will prolong the proceedings because it will take longer for you to reach MMI.
2. The Complexity of the Case
If the circumstances surrounding the incident in which you were hurt are fairly cut and dry—for example, if you were struck by a drunk driver while crossing a marked crosswalk when you had the right of way—your legal team may be able to build a strong case and then guide it through the court system relatively quickly.
If, on the other hand, proving liability poses a challenge, as it often does for victims of medical malpractice, resolving your case could take quite a while. Suits that involve inherently complicated scenarios typically take longer to reach a settlement or verdict than those that don’t.
3. The Defendant’s Willingness to Settle
If the defendant acknowledges liability and is willing to offer a fair payout, you could shave months—or even years—off the duration of the proceedings by keeping the case out of court. If, on the other hand, they’re not willing to cooperate, your case may have to move through every stage of litigation in pursuit of a favorable recovery.
4. The Jurisdiction’s Caseload
If the defendant is unwilling to settle and your case ends up proceeding to trial, the court’s current caseload will have a major impact on its timeline. Should the jurisdiction have a backlog of suits, for example, it could delay your own case by several weeks (or even months).
5. The Number of Defendants
If it turns out multiple parties are to blame for your injuries, you will want to name all of them in your suit. This may improve your chances of recovering fair compensation, but it might lead to disputes regarding how liability is apportioned.
Call (727) 821-1500 to Speak with a Personal injury Attorney in St. Petersburg
If you were seriously hurt through no fault of your own, contact Emerson Straw PL to determine the most strategic way to proceed. Our compassionate attorneys will conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding your injuries and gather the evidence needed to prove liability and damages against all responsible parties. Call (727) 821-1500 or fill out our Contact Form to schedule a free consultation with a personal injury lawyer in St. Petersburg.