How Long Will It Take to Settle My Personal Injury Case?
Slow and leisurely can be a perfect pace for a weekend afternoon or a family vacation. However, when you are talking about personal injury settlement, you probably want things to move a little faster so you can get back to your normal life.Personal injury laws and deadlines vary in each state. To ensure you have accurate information, you should a Georgia Personal Injury Attorney. They can answer your questions and are by your side throughout the process. They will help you control the complexity of the system as well as your particular case.
While you’re considering filing a personal injury case, here are some basics you need to know.
The limitation period
in the GeorgiaYou have two years from the date of your injury to file a lawsuit. If you sue the government, the statute of limitations is only one year. Counties or local governments may have different regulations.
There are certain limited exceptions to the statute of limitations. For example, if a healthcare professional overlooks a medical diagnosis, the effects of the serious illness may not be recognized for more than two years.
Out of court settlements
The shortest way to seek compensation for your personal injury is to settle out of court, even if these deadlines vary.
In the most basic personal injury schemes, you may have to wait anywhere from two weeks to a month to receive the proceeds if both parties agree terms. Why the delay?
The simplest of settlements still require the insurance company and both lawyers to do significant paperwork. You can have some back-and-forth discussions about the details included in the settlement release.
Once the other party’s insurance company has created and processed the settlement check, it will be sent to your attorney. Your attorney will apply the proceeds to any medical bills, as well as their own fees, before receiving your portion of the bill.
That is the best scenario. A more complicated, controversial solution can take months. The settlement language can be much more complex and require extensive negotiations. If the victim is under 18 years of age or an adult who has been found unable to work, the settlement must be approved by the court. All of these factors increase the time between billing and receipt of billing revenue.
Go to court
Most personal injury suits are settled out of court. Out of court settlements save both parties time and money, not to mention the stress of litigation.
However, if all parties involved cannot reach an agreement, the case will be brought to court. When a case goes to court, your personal injury time limit can stretch from months to years.
Your personal injury attorney will file a complaint with the court. The court serves the accused with the complaint.
The discovery process comes next. Your attorney will speak to witnesses, identify relevant experts, and collect documents, including your medical records. Both sides offer the evidence they want to present in court. The detection process itself can take up to a year.
During the discovery process, your lawyer and the defendant’s representatives may still be trying to reach an agreement. If the settlement talks are unsuccessful, applications and arguments are continued.
If no agreement is reached, your case will be brought to court. This length of time depends on the court’s schedule and will likely be several months longer. Ultimately, they cannot make a decision for years after your lawsuit is filed. Even after the verdict, the defendant can still appeal.
How long will this agreement take?
Unfortunately, even the most experienced lawyer can find it difficult to come up with a specific answer. It could take a few weeks to a few years to resolve your personal injury case.
Since each case is unique, each timeline is different. Items that affect the timeline can include:
- Type and gravity of your personal injury.
- The amount of the billing you want.
- The court’s schedule and number of cases.
- You have to settle for a lower dollar amount quickly while you wait for a more substantial financial settlement.
Find a personal injury attorney to assist you all the time.
If you are looking for a qualified personal injury attorney in Georgia, turn to Greathouse Trial Law at 678-310-2827 for a free initial consultation.
We care about our customers and will do everything we can to represent their interests, from negotiating with insurance companies to fighting for their rights in court.
Our law firm is located in Atlanta, Georgia, but we provide services nationwide. Our skilled team has experience in a wide variety of areas of activity, from truck accidents to slips and falls. We have won countless personal injury cases in Georgia. We can help you too.
Disclaimer: The information in this blog post (“Post”) is for general informational purposes only and may not reflect the current law in your jurisdiction. The information contained in this post should not be construed as legal advice to the individual author or the law firm, nor is it intended as a substitute for legal advice on any particular topic. No reader of this post should act on or dispense with the information contained in or accessible through this post without seeking appropriate legal or other professional advice as to the particular facts and circumstances at issue with an attorney that is approved by the recipient state, state, or other suitable licensing jurisdiction.
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