When you have been injured because of someone else’s actions or negligence you deserve compensation for those injuries. If you want to have the best chances at winning you case, you need to contact a personal injury lawyer to help you get the compensation you deserve. Insurance companies will have lawyers readily on hand to try and fight for their clients, so they don’t have to pay. And if you are injured at work, companies will try to compensate you as little as possible for your injuries.
There are many types of these cases that could possibly go to court, some may include:
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Delivery driver accidents
- Municipal vehicle accidents
- Healthcare vehicle accidents
- Boating accidents
- Dog bites
- Slip and fall accidents
- Catastrophic injuries from these accidents
- Product Liability cases
- Motorcycle accidents
- Airport injuries
- Work injures
- Pedestrian accidents
- Public transportation accidents
- Defective drugs
And there is an abundant amount of other types of cases that might go to court. That is why it is so important to have a personal injury lawyer on your side.
Steps After you’ve Obtained a Personal Injury
After the accident and you have met with your personal injury lawyer there is still a lot of steps that need to take place before you get compensated. Most times these cases will never go to court because the included parties will come to an agreement that is satisfactory to all. If this is the case, then the settlement is agreed on and the case is over. But even so your personal injury lawyer must negotiate these terms and compensation, and this can take some time depending on how cooperative everyone is and the seriousness of the injury. The time this will take varies as mentioned above.
If there is no Settlement
If the situation above in which everyone agrees on a settlement can’t be reached, then your personal injury lawyer will file a lawsuit in court. These cases can take up to a year or 2 because so much information must be discovered. Both sides must investigate in order to determine the facts and see if what the other side is claiming has truth to it. While this is happening the possibility of settling the claim is still an option and sometimes, they do get settled at this time.
Mediation
After both sides have had time to discover the facts of the case then it’s possible to have a third party mediate for the sides. This is done if negotiations have stalled and the facts are out on the table to see if a possible agreement can still be met before a judge’s decision. Neither side has to agree to what the mediator says and if one or both don’t agree then the case will go to trial.
If the case then goes to trail a verdict will be stated, but this till doesn’t necessarily mean it is over. If you lose you can appeal the verdict, and the same goes for the other party involved. The appeals process can take some time as well and even if you do end up winning the case or an appeal that doesn’t mean you get you money right then and there. Companies and businesses alike will try to stall or prolong the payment even after they have lost in order to keep their money as long as possible. This is where having a great personal injury lawyer is key to you getting the compensation you have so rightfully earned. They can take legal action in order to make the companies pay the money they owe, and once they do they will turn it over to you.
Hire a Great Personal Injury Lawyer
We have discussed the many steps and possible directions a personal injury case can take. So, answering the questions of how long does a personal injury case take is not so easily answered. As it can be settled quickly or drawn out over years. If you are ever in any of these situations you should hire a great personal injury lawyer like The Stoddard Firm to help you fight for the compensation you and your loved ones deserve.
