How Long Will Your Personal Injury Lawsuit Take?
One of the first questions that clients ask when entering the office of personal injury lawyers Bethesda MD is how long the case will take. Unfortunately, there is no clear answer to the question. Every case is different. Your case may take a few months to a few years. While this might seem like a broad range, there are ways to make estimates. Here is what you need to know about the personal injury timeline.
What Does the Timeline Entail?
Your first step to filing a personal injury claim should be to set up a consultation with personal injury lawyers Bethesda MD. Your lawyer will discuss your options and help determine whether you have a strong enough case. Once it’s determined that you have a viable case, an investigation begins.
Once investigated, your attorney will demand payment from the insurance company or individual who was negligent. If the demand is denied, then your attorney will file the lawsuit. Once filed, the discovery phase begins. Your attorney and the defense attorney begin to build the case. Once the discovery process finishes, there will be an attempt to mediate a settlement. If the two sides cannot reach an agreement, then you go to trial. Most personal injury cases do not go to trial, but the case will be presented in front of the jury if yours does.
How Long Do Most Settlements Take?
The average length of time for a personal injury lawsuit depends on what kind of lawsuit you file. For example, a lawsuit concerning a car accident takes much less time than a wrongful death lawsuit. Here are some of the average times:
- Wrongful death lawsuits can take from six months to four years
- Car and truck accidents lawsuits can take from six months to 18 months
- Nursing home abuse lawsuits can take from 18 to 24 months
- Medical malpractice lawsuits can take from six to 12 months
In addition to the type of lawsuit, it depends on whether you have to go to court or if you settle out of court. Some insurance companies settle quickly, whereas others refuse to settle.
Your first step to filing a personal injury claim is to contact personal injury lawyers Bethesda MD. He or she can ensure that you do not miss any deadlines. During your consultation, you can discuss the length of time these cases last on average. Set up an appointment as soon as possible to receive the compensation that you deserve.
The experienced personal injury lawyers Bethesda MD at Cohen & Cohen have settled thousands of cases since its inception. Contact us today at (202) 955-4529 for a free case evaluation.
