How Much Time Does It Take to Settle a Personal Injury Case?

Posted on December 22, 2022 by admin

When it comes to personal injury claims, much of the focus is on winning a full and fair settlement for victims. But what about the time frame? How long does it take for an accident victim’s personal injury case to be resolved? The answer depends largely on the complexity of each individual case and how long the injured person needs to obtain medical care.

Continue below to learn more about the expected time length of a personal injury case, plus where to get more trusted information surrounding accident claims in Indiana.

Call 317-881-2700 to Speak With Licensed Injury Lawyers in Indianapolis Indiana.

Average Timelines for Accident Lawsuits

When it comes to personal injury cases, there is no one answer for how long it will take. Each case is unique and different, making the timeline of resolution hard to predict. As for trials, the length of proceedings varies significantly. Depending on the complexity of the case, the amount of evidence presented, and other factors that could lead to unforeseen problems or delays in proceedings, it can take months or even years before a trial occurs.

Proper preparation by both lawyers involved is imperative to move the proceedings along properly without delay. Obtaining witnesses with relevant testimony and assembling concise courtroom documents all play a part in how long a personal injury trial can take. Additionally, competent legal counsel is an essential asset for directing negotiations regarding settlement pre-trial or securing an award post trial.

Ultimately, there is no one simple answer as to how long an accident trial will take. Each case is different and must be approached intellectually with open-mindedness and expertise in order to provide the quickest resolution possible. With an experienced Indianapolis personal injury attorney in your corner, you can feel confident that your case is being handled properly and achieving the best possible outcome.

General Steps to the Civil Claims Process

In personal injury cases, there are several steps to the claims process. First, accident victims must receive medical treatment and document their injury. Second, they must locate an experienced personal injury law firm in Indianapolis who can help them file an accident claim. Third, the injury case must be negotiated with relevant insurers or other parties—either through settlement discussions or in court. The vast majority of personal injury cases are settled without having to go to court but it is important to obtain all relevant evidence for all cases just in case an injury case does not get settled without going to court.

The personal injury claims process can be lengthy and complex, so it’s important to have an experienced professional on your side. A certified accident lawyer in Indianapolis will help you navigate the legal system, negotiate a fair settlement amount for you, and represent your interests in the courtroom if necessary. This is not something to take lightly; personal injury cases can have life-altering implications, and you want to ensure that your rights are fully protected.

If you’ve been injured in an accident you need assistance with your personal injury claim so please contact a qualified personal injury lawyer today. Remember: when it comes to personal injury cases, the sooner the better! Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. has the experience and skills to obtain the full and fair compensation you deserve. We represent injured victims throughout Indiana, as well as Indiana residents who have been injured or wrongly killed in other states. Schedule a free consultation by calling our office directly at 317-881-2700, today.

Important Information About Settling an Accident Case

Posted on February 7, 2022 by admin

Surviving victims injured in a wrongful accident caused by another person’s negligence can recover compensation for their damages and losses one of two ways: out of court mutual negotiations or trial. Although many personal injury settlements are negotiated and settled outside of court, it is critical to a victim’s financial future and overall quality of life to retain experienced personal injury representation for their claim.

A seasoned Indiana accident attorney will aim to settle without a trial if a reasonable settlement can be reached but will remain ready and prepared to take a client’s case to court if necessary. If you are a recent victim of a wrongful accident and suffered injuries as a result, the settlement process will impact the outcome of your claim.

Continue reading to learn what you can expect during the process of settling a personal injury claim, plus how to ensure you obtain the maximum compensation for your case.

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Personal Injury Settlements

A settlement takes place when a defendant’s insurance carrier and sometimes the defendant themself make an offer for compensation, and the victim or plaintiff accepts the offer. This often happens outside of court. In fact, some agreements are made before a lawsuit is even filed. If the victim has trouble receiving a fair offer, their lawyer may suggest taking the case to civil court.

Settlements can also be made after a case goes to trial, but before a final award or verdict is made. Other times, parties might become anxious during jury deliberations, and decide to settle before their verdict comes back. This is because some defendants would rather agree to a set settlement, rather than allowing a jury to decide the case.

Full Liability Releases

Once a settlement is agreed upon between both parties, the plaintiff must sign a full liability release form. This form lawfully relinquishes all potential claims against the defendant arising out of the accident or incident. This way, the plaintiff cannot file any further lawsuits for more compensation against the defendant later. For instance, in a slip and fall case, a store’s insurance company may offer a victim $25,000 to settle a case made against their insured, but to receive the payment, the victim must agree to not sue the store or to dismiss any lawsuit that has already been filed against the store.

Most Accident Cases Settle in the End

The reason why most personal injury cases settle is because both the plaintiff and the defendant want to mitigate and control their risks and avoid the significant legal costs that come with actually going to trial. Almost all personal injury cases involve insurance companies, who have the finances to pay out claims quickly.

If a claim goes to trial, the insurance company loses some control over how much they pay in recompense to a wrongfully injured victim, as well as court costs, attorney fees, and other legal expenses. Also, many insurance companies settle claims because they want to avoid the public eye for themselves and the defendant they insure. With so many social media platforms these days, it is easy for one incident to result in a company being publicly criticized for their negligence.

Are you a recent accident victim who was wrongly injured as a result of another person or company’s negligence? Contact the Law Office of Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 to learn your rights to pursuing a personal injury claim in Indianapolis, Indiana. Our seasoned accident attorneys offer free initial consultations and never collect lawyer fees unless we prevail for you. We represent injured persons and the family survivors in wrongful death cases throughout the state of Indiana.

Local Indianapolis Personal Injury Law Firm 317-881-2700 — Schedule a Free Consultation!

How Long Does a Personal Injury Lawsuit Take?

Posted on October 5, 2018 by admin

Many questions arise after being negligently injured in an accident. One of the more common inquiries involves time; that is, many accident victims want to know how long a personal injury lawsuit can take. If you are a recent accident victim, you may be wondering the same thing.

Continue reading to learn more about personal injury lawsuits, including the possible standard events of the average legal process.

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Immediately After the Accident

As soon as you are involved in an accident, you must get medical treatment immediately. Even if you look and feel fine because of adrenaline, there could be underlying bodily injury such as whiplash, back injuries, spine injuries, orthopedic fractures, burns and more. Always get checked out by a medical professional right after an accident. Once you have received your medical treatment, continue with any physician’s orders and show up for all scheduled doctors’ appointments.

Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer

After you get home from the hospital, it is wise to start looking for a lawyer to represent your personal injury claim. Choose a seasoned Indianapolis accident lawyer who has experience in your type of accident and provides free initial consultations to discuss your case. It is also helpful to choose a law firm that works on a contingency fee basis, meaning they do not collect lawyer fees unless the recover a settlement for you.

Case Investigation and Development

Upon hiring a lawyer, the next step of the process mainly rests in their hands. From here, your lawyer will document your case through an investigation, while also utilizing all types of sources and evidence, such as witness statements, 911 tapes, photographs, videos, professional testimonies, medical records and more. They will also negotiate with the opposing insurance company to obtain the full and fair compensation you deserve for your damages and losses as an accident victim.

Negotiations

The negotiating part of the process can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months, or even years, depending on many factors, including how cooperative the opposing insurance company is and how long it takes for you to recover. Sometimes, lawyers will not make a demand until a victim has reached maximum medical improvement (MMI), and they have mostly recovered from their injuries. No accident victim should want to even make a settlement demand until a doctor tells them there is no further treatments which can improve their situation.

Filing a Lawsuit

Not all personal injury claims go to trial and in fact the majority of cases do not, but if they do, the process starts as soon as the lawsuit is filed. From there, it can take up to 1 to 2 years for the case to make it to court, however, every state has different pretrial procedures, so it is hard to really predict how long it will take.

Discovery Process

Once the lawsuit is filed, both sides begin the discovery process to investigate and research the legal claims and defenses, which involves interrogatories, document requests, and more. The discovery process generally takes anywhere from 6 to 12 months, but this can vary depending on various factors such as case complexity and court deadlines.

Mediations

Once the discovery process closes, both sides enter into the mediation and negotiation phase of the process. Basically, they begin to discuss the possible settlement. If the lawyers representing each side cannot agree on a settlement among themselves, obviously with the consent of their clients, they will go to mediation. If mediation does not work, the case will go to trial. However, most personal injury lawsuits settle out of court using mediation.

Trial

If a personal injury lawsuit goes to trial, it is very difficult to predict how long it will take. There are several factors that influence the legal timeline of such cases. Hearings can also be pushed back and rescheduled. This means a trial can take anywhere from one day to several months, or longer, depending on the case.

Where to Get the Best Legal Advice Regarding Your Claim