First and foremost, you are likely wondering if you have a good, solid case for recovery following your accident with injuries. The answer to this question depends on a variety of questions you must ask yourself and answer honestly. It could be very beneficial to discuss your case with a personal injury attorney who is highly skilled in your particular type of accident (i.e.; if you were hit by an 18-wheeler, you need an attorney who is very familiar with the specific issues surrounding such an accident, likewise for a motorcycle accident, multi-car accident or any other type of accident which come with special circumstances).
How Do My Injuries Factor In?
Were you injured, and if so, how severe were your injuries? Have you been rendered unable to work due to your injuries, or do you have piles of medical bills for the injuries you received which you are unable to pay? Was it directly another person’s fault that you were injured? Did the negligent party have insurance at the time of the accident, or is your insurance going to have to pick up the tab? Are you within the statute of limitations, or has too much time passed? A knowledgeable personal injury attorney can help you answer each of these questions in a way which will tell you whether you have a good case or not.
How Long Will My Case Take?
All people who are considering filing a personal injury claim are concerned about how long the case will take. Again, the answer to this question will depend on a number of factors such as whether or not you’ve completed your medical treatment or have considerably more surgeries, therapies or rehabilitation to complete. If there is an insurance company involved, are they accepting liability or denying your injuries and damages? If the insurance company is not accepting liability, you would have little choice but to sue for damages, however this could take considerably more time.
The reason most of us want to know how much time the case could take is that we dread the thought of appearing in court, and having our lives filled with uncertainty while the case drags on. Unfortunately, there is just not one stock answer for how long your case could take. Having a personal injury attorney in your corner who has considerable experience in cases like yours can certainly make the case go much more quickly.
Will I Have to Go to Court in Order to Get a Settlement?
Nobody wants to go to court, and almost everyone considers sitting on the witness stand answering questions by opposing counsel to be one of life’s more anxiety-provoking experiences. In reality, very few personal injury cases ever make it to trial. This is true for several reasons; the attorney on the case may realize the case could be lost at trial and recommend settling for an offer that can be live with, or many people simply don’t want to spend the time and money a trial would involve, choosing to accept a reasonable settlement instead.
Fear of the unknown is also a big motivator in convincing people to accept a settlement offer rather than going to court. Juries are well known for being predictable—they may be unsympathetic to your injuries or may decide to really stick it to the person responsible for the injuries. Unfortunately, it can take years for a case to finally see a courtroom, and even longer to collect a multi-million dollar verdict.
Other Questions
If you are wondering how long you have to sue, be aware that the statute of limitations varies widely from type of claim as well as jurisdiction, so be sure to ask for advice from your attorney about where you are in the allowed time frame. Even if your injuries are healed, you may be able to successfully sue for injuries you sustained in your auto accident. If you refused to be transported via ambulance to an emergency room this may make your case more difficult, but it definitely does not mean you don’t have a case.