Why Does a Lawsuit Take So Long?

Accidents happen, and unfortunately, they often result in injuries that disrupt our lives physically, emotionally, and financially. That said, you may be entitled to compensation for your losses if you’ve suffered a personal injury due to someone else’s negligence.

If you’re anxious to reach the finish line of your case but you’re unsure of the process or timeline, read on. We’ll cover the essential factors that influence your personal injury lawsuit and discuss how we can help win your case.

How Long Does the Average Personal Injury Lawsuit Take?

Are you wondering how long it takes to settle after a personal injury? Generally, personal injury lawsuits take time, and pursuing a personal injury lawsuit can be a complex and time-consuming process. Let’s take a look at several factors that impact the amount of time it takes to file a lawsuit.

Factors That Affect the Length of a Lawsuit:

1. Retaining an Attorney: If you’ve been involved in an injury, you need to pick up the phone and call Shapiro Law Team. Taking the first step in any personal injury claim should always be to retain a skilled and knowledgeable attorney to represent your interests. Finding the right legal team can significantly impact the length and success of your case.
2. Claim Investigation: Once you’ve retained an attorney, they’ll initiate a thorough investigation, which includes gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses, and reviewing medical records. A Shapiro Law Team attorney will do this to establish liability. Call us at (505) 209-8149 to set up a free consultation.
3. Finishing Treatment: Make sure you complete your medical treatment before moving forward with the lawsuit. Completing your medical treatment ensures that the full extent of your injuries and medical expenses is known. This helps your attorney determine the value of your damages.
4. Preparing a Demand Letter: Your attorney will draft a demand letter outlining the details of your claim, including the extent of your injuries, medical expenses, lost wages, and any other applicable damages. Basically, this letter demands full compensation for the damages you’ve suffered.
5. Pre-Suit Negotiations: Pre-lawsuit negotiations may have an impact on your timeline. In many cases, personal injury claims can be resolved through negotiations before formal legal proceedings. Your attorney will be in touch with your insurance company to discuss and seek a fair settlement.
6. Formal Proceedings: If pre-suit negotiations don’t produce results you’re satisfied with, your attorney can file a lawsuit on your behalf. Filing a lawsuit marks the formal beginning of the litigation process. At trial, your lawyer will present evidence, interview witnesses, and even cross-examine the defendant’s witnesses.

5 Factors that Influence the Timeline

Sometimes, certain factors influence the timeline of filing a personal injury claim. These can range from prolonged medical treatments to high compensation amounts on the table. We’ll unpack these factors one by one below.

1. You’re Still Getting Treatment: The duration of your treatment can influence the overall timeline of your lawsuit. Waiting until you’ve fully recovered or reached maximum medical improvement guarantees that all relevant medical expenses are accounted for in the claim. Ensuring that you present all medical expenses is extremely important.
2. Determining Who Is to Blame: Sometimes, determining liability isn’t so straightforward. If there are multiple parties involved or if the fault is disputed, it may take longer to establish liability and move forward with the claim. This is especially true in lane change accidents and dog bite incidents.
3. Insurance Companies Take Longer in Bigger Cases: Working with insurance is never straightforward. Insurance companies may take longer to process and evaluate claims involving significant compensation amounts. Their thoroughness in investigating these cases can result in longer settlement negotiations.
4. Setting the Right Expectations: At Shapiro Law Team, we understand that you want to get the ball rolling as quickly as possible. However, it’s crucial to be realistic about the timeline of your lawsuit. Your attorney will communicate with you regularly to keep you informed about the progress and any potential developments in your case.
5. There’s a Large Amount of Compensation Involved: If a higher compensation is involved, expect the timeline to take longer. Higher compensation amounts often lead to more contentious negotiations, which may extend the time required to reach a settlement. Contact Shapiro Law Team, the New Mexico personal injury lawyer ready to fight tooth and nail for your deserved compensation.

How Shapiro Law Team Can Win Your Case

Looking for a personal injury lawyer in Albuquerque? Shapiro Law Team is here to win your case. Suffering a personal injury is a harrowing experience, but seeking justice and compensation shouldn’t be. Shapiro Law Team understands the complexities of personal injury lawsuits and is dedicated to guiding you through every step of the legal process. If we don’t win your case, you don’t pay a thing.

Our team provides straight and narrow representation from start to finish. If you find yourself in need of legal representation after a personal injury, don’t hesitate to reach out to Shapiro Law Team to begin your journey towards recovery, justice, and peace. Call us for a free, confidential consultation.