When you’ve been injured because of someone else’s negligence, the thought of undergoing a long and difficult court case can be overwhelming.
But how long does the average personal injury lawsuit actually take? And how long do you have to wait to get your money?
Let’s separate fact from fiction as we take a look at the personal injury lawsuit process and how Injury.com can resolve your case fast.
We’ve all seen court dramas play out on TV and in movies: the fiery attorney waving paperwork around in the air, the sobbing witness, and the stern judge are Hollywood staples. If Law and Order and all its various spin-offs are to be believed, court cases are all high adrenaline fights to the proverbial death. Surprise witnesses and legal twists keep the viewer mesmerized while objections fly through the air like arrows poised to puncture the other side’s case.
While entertaining, few people would want to change places with the plaintiff on the screen. How stressful is that?
Unsurprisingly, actual personal injury cases are much less dramatic.
First, most cases settle before ever seeing a courtroom. This means that your case will often be resolved through court documents exchanged between parties. In some cases, settlement can occur in just a few weeks. While it makes for boring television and movies, settling out of court saves both parties time and money.
Second, court cases don’t begin and end in days. In real life, the trial process can take months or even years before it actually starts, not to mention the sometimes lengthy amount of time before a verdict is reached.
Third, there aren’t many surprises or huge revelations during your claim. A process known as the discovery phase allows each party to exchange written information and sometimes verbal testimony right after your claim is filed, so all parties are aware of most if not all of the facts from the beginning. This means that, although no attorney can guarantee results, you can be pretty confident about the value of your claim from the get-go. No one’s evil twin with amnesia is suddenly going to appear and destroy your chances of getting paid.
When you file a personal injury claim, you are seeking compensation for your injuries. This is known as “damages” and can include a variety of compensation for both tangible and intangible injuries such as:
In very rare trial cases, a court may decide to award punitive damages if the defendant intentionally inflicted the harm on you. So if someone goes full-blown Fried Green Tomatoes and rams your car in the parking lot for fun, you may be eligible for additional damages meant to deter them from doing that sort of thing again.
Your attorney will identify which available damages apply to your situation and ask for them in the court documents that are served to the other party.
Sorry, there’s no hard-and-fast rule as far as a timeline for getting paid goes.
But, when cases settle outside of court you will get paid much faster than if the case were to go to trial.
Want your money even faster? Take advantage of our fast and easy service at Injury.com where you can file a claim in 3 minutes or less and have your money direct-deposited straight into your bank account.
Bringing law into the 21st century, Injury.com is help made easy. Effortlessly file your claim, build your case, and get paid. All from your phone. Without leaving your home.