If you are involved in a personal injury case, you can expect this process to take a substantial period of time. Depending on the unique details of your case, the process could last weeks, months, or even more than a year.
Considerations that may affect the timeline for your case include the severity of your injuries, your recovery timetable, and whether your case goes to trial. A personal injury lawyer in Atlanta from our firm will complete the claims and legal process as soon as possible, while ensuring we fight for every dollar you deserve. You should not have to wait any longer than necessary to receive the financial recovery you deserve.
Factors That Affect Personal Injury Case Timelines
Each personal injury case involves a different:
- Set of harmful circumstances
- Injured party
- Insurance company
- Range of damages
In other words, each case is totally unique. This makes it difficult to predict exactly how long each case will take, but we can estimate case timelines based on:
The Severity of the Injured Person’s Damages
The severity of your injuries and related damages will affect the amount of compensation you are seeking. If you are pursuing a large financial recovery, you may face substantial pushback from liable parties (who, naturally, do not want to pay a large sum to anyone.)
As a general rule, the more compensation you are seeking, the more liable parties may resist. Such resistance could lengthen the duration of your case.
The Negotiating Approach of Liable Parties
Your attorney may quickly realize whether liable parties are negotiating in good faith or not. Possible signs of bad-faith negotiations include:
- Baseless claim denials
- Allegations that you are responsible for your injuries and damages
- Insurers undervaluing the cost of your damages
- Lowball settlement offers
- Stalling
- Hardball negotiation tactics
When liable parties refuse to accept full financial responsibility and offer a fair settlement, these bad-faith tactics can extend the life of a personal injury case.
Whether the Case Requires a Lawsuit
Your lawyer may initially negotiate with insurers as part of the claims process. If your attorney cannot reach a financial agreement with liable insurers, they may need to file a lawsuit on your behalf. The process of filing a lawsuit can lengthen the time it takes to complete your case.
Whether the Case Goes to Trial
Your attorney can continue to negotiate a settlement even after filing a lawsuit. If you still do not receive a fair settlement offer from liable parties, your lawyer may advise you to go to trial. If your case goes to trial, your attorney will need to:
- Complete the discovery process, during which time both sides exchange and review case materials
- Make verbal arguments in favor of your case
- Present evidence
- Question and cross-examine witnesses
- Request compensation from the jury
Trials may involve delays, sometimes at the request of one or both sides. If your case goes to trial, you should prepare for a significant extension of your case’s timeline.
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Personal Injury FAQs
What Types of Personal Injury Cases Are Common in Atlanta?How is Liability Determined in Atlanta Personal Injury Cases?How Can I Protect My Rights When Dealing with Insurance Adjusters in Atlanta?When Should I Hire a Decatur Personal Injury Lawyer?What’s the Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury Claims in Decatur?What Is the Personal Injury Lawsuit Timeline?What Can I Do to Resolve My Case as Soon as Possible?
Only so much of the legal process is within your control. One step you can take to avoid unnecessary delays is hiring an attorney.
A lawyer will work to resolve your case as soon as possible by:
Completing Their Investigation Right Away
Your attorney will build your side of the case as quickly as possible. Our investigation may involve:
- Interviewing eyewitnesses to your car crash or other type of injury accident
- Obtaining any relevant video footage
- Getting a copy of the police report
- Photographing property damage (such as a damaged vehicle)
- Securing any other documents or facts related to your case
Our firm has investigators and other resources to complete a prompt, detailed investigation of the event that caused you harm.
Calculating and Documenting Your Damages in a Timely Manner
Before settlement negotiations can occur, your lawyer will need to have full information about your damages. They will document those damages using:
- Medical records
- Medical bills
- Images of injuries
- Evidence of lost income, diminished earning power, and other professional damages
- Expert testimony about your injuries, pain and suffering, and other damages
- Invoices related to property damage (like vehicle repair costs)
Your lawyer and their team will reach out to your doctors, mental health professionals, and any others who can evaluate your damages.
Maintaining Constant Contact with Insurers
Personal injury lawyers understand that insurers do not always handle claims in good faith (or in a speedy manner). Your attorney will be in frequent contact with insurers to move your claim forward as efficiently as possible.
Making Prompt, Logical Decisions Related to Your Case
Your attorney should be able to recognize when liable parties are unwilling to offer a fair settlement. This will allow your legal team to pivot towards trial and move to the next step of your case.
Recoverable Damages in Georgia Personal Injury Cases
Your lawyer will focus intently on your damages, as these are the centerpiece of every personal injury case. Those damages may include the cost of:
- Emergency transport and services
- Diagnostic imaging
- Visits with physicians, including specialists
- Pain and suffering
- Mental health treatment
- Rehabilitation
- Lost income
- Diminished earning power
If you have property expenses, such as the cost of repairing a damaged vehicle, your lawyer will include those expenses in your case.
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Our Fee Structure Allows Us to Start Your Case Right Away
Our firm offers a client-friendly fee structure that ensures we can begin work on your case right away. This structure:
- Requires you to pay us no upfront fee
- Only affords us a fee if we secure compensation for you
This no-risk fee structure is meant to provide relief during this difficult time in your life.
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Call Bader Scott Injury Lawyers Today for Your Free Consultation
Retain a Georgia personal injury attorney from Bader Scott Injury Lawyers as soon as possible. We have decades of experience fighting for victims of negligence, and our team provides family-like client service that you can rely on.
Call Bader Scott Injury Lawyers today for a free consultation.
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