Blog

Learn about the key steps that need to be completed in a car accident injury case

Timeline of a Car Accident Injury Case

Have you been injured in a car accident that was not your fault? You may have big medical bills to pay as well as many other expenses piling up while you are out of work due to your injuries. Naturally, you may be very eager to know how long it will take to get your compensation.

Unfortunately, there is no easy answer to this question, as every case is different. Here are some of the key steps that are typically involved in a car accident injury case:

  • Medical Treatment: Obviously, if you have been injured, you need medical care. Getting necessary treatment should be your first priority. This not only protects your health and facilitates your recovery; it also creates important documentation that will be necessary for your car accident injury case. Getting appointments with specialists, scheduling surgeries, completing physical therapy, and healing all take time. This is one reason why car accident injury cases sometimes seem to drag on. Also, remember that before you can accept compensation, you need to wait until you know the full cost of your current and future medical care, as well as whether you will be left with any permanent pain or symptoms.
  • Investigation: As soon as you hire an attorney, they will conduct a thorough investigation into the facts of your case. Your attorney will help you gather documentation and physical evidence that can be used to show who caused your car accident, how badly you were hurt, and what other damages you may have suffered. Your attorney will also be on the lookout for any weaknesses in your case and do what they can to mitigate them.
  • Settlement Negotiations: Once your car accident attorney understands the value of your case, they can begin negotiating with the at-fault party’s insurance company to settle your claim. Settlements are advantageous in that they offer a faster resolution than going to court, and they enable you to know the exact amount of compensation you will receive before you agree to it.
  • Filing a Lawsuit: Your attorney can file a petition on your behalf that will initiate a lawsuit against the at-fault party. Unfortunately, trials run on the court’s timeline, which can be very slow in some counties. Just because a lawsuit has been filed does not mean it is too late for a settlement. In fact, the additional pressure of a lawsuit can be the extra push the insurance company needs to agree to a fair settlement.
  • Discovery: The discovery process helps both sides prepare for trial by allowing them to request and view the other side’s documentation. Discovery is also the time to depose witnesses to get their testimony on the record.
  • Trial: Depending on the complexity of your case, your trial can take days or weeks. Jury trials are especially time-consuming because there is the additional process of jury selection to go through.

Contact a Car Accident Attorney

Because every case is different, it is really difficult to say exactly how long you will have to wait for your compensation. The best way to get personalized information about your case is to consult an experienced car accident injury attorney. Call 800-333-0000 now to speak to a caring professional from The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker.