Most personal injury cases settle out of court. However, if you are unable to reach a fair settlement with the at-fault party, you may consider taking them to trial.
If you are debating whether or not to file a lawsuit against the at-fault party, you should consider hiring a personal injury attorney to help guide you through the litigation process. Experienced personal injury attorneys are often able to obtain the maximum settlement for their clients without going to trial.
Ali Awad can be found in the courtroom and the mediation room fighting for clients, but he can also be found on Instagram. With over 1 million followers, he’s one of the first attorneys to bring simple, no-nonsense legal advice to the people. For a no-obligation consultation of your case, call the CEO lawyer at (470) 323-8779.
Factors that Influence the Length of Your Case
The timeline of events for most personal injury cases is relatively standard and most cases take around eight to eighteen months to go to trial. However, certain factors can influence the length of your case, such as:
- The severity of your injuries and the length of time it takes to fully recover
- Questions regarding liability in the accident
- The willingness of the insurance company to settle your claim for a fair amount
- The amount of time that it takes to investigate the accident and gather evidence of fault
- Whether or not your injury led to permanent disability or impairment
Timeline of Events in a Personal Injury Case
- Initial Medical Treatment: If you have sustained a personal injury as a result of an accident, seek medical attention as soon as possible. This is true even if you don’t feel like you have suffered an injury. Some injuries may not appear until later, or the severity of the injury cannot be determined until later. For example, if you are injured in a car wreck, some injuries to internal organs can lead to later infections or organ failure that may take weeks to manifest. Similarly, a slight headache can indicate a brain bleed. For these reasons, it is always wise to seek medical treatment immediately after your accident. Be sure to keep all documentation of your injuries and medical expenses.
- Consult with a Personal Injury Attorney: Many personal injury attorneys, the CEO Lawyer included, provide no-obligation, no-cost consultations after an accident. At Ali Awad Law, the attorneys do not get paid unless you get paid.
- Hire a Personal Injury Attorney: Suppose you have consulted with several attorneys and decided which one to hire to represent you in your accident. After you have hired representation, your attorney will begin working on your case right away. They will first review the facts of the case and begin compiling documentation that can help establish fault, damages, and proper compensation. Your attorney will ask for copies of your medical treatments and related medical expenses, as well as police reports, witness statements, and in some cases, the opinion of experts.
- Settlement Negotiation: Not all personal injury cases go to trial. In fact, most are settled out of court. After researching your case and compiling documents that substantiate your claim, your attorney will begin the process of negotiating with the other party’s insurance company or legal representation.
- The Demand Letter: The first step in settlement negotiation is the demand letter. A demand letter outlines the damages you are seeking to compensate you for your injury and losses suffered after an accident. A well-written demand letter outlines the facts of the case in a professional manner, listing the specific and documented damages, such as the cost of repair to your property, medical expenses, and lost wages. These are referred to as economic damages. Next, your attorney will outline general, or non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering or mental anguish. The demand letter begins the process of negotiation that will eventually end in your settlement.
There are two possible outcomes once your attorney has begun the process of negotiation. Either the insurance company will settle for the amount asked for in the letter, or they will not. If they do not, settlement negotiations may continue for weeks or months until your attorney decides that a trial is the best way to secure your maximum settlement.
Taking your Case to Civil Court
There are certain litigation steps that will be followed if your case goes to trial.
- Discovery: This period of time refers to when both parties in the lawsuit share the evidence that attorneys have gathered to support their claims. This includes documentation of your injuries, medical bills, repair costs, as well as the same documents for the opposing party. Both attorneys will review the documents looking for evidence that will support their client’s claim.
- The Trial: Negotiation may continue throughout the discovery and if a settlement offer is not reached, your case will be determined by a judge or jury. Your attorney will argue the facts of your case and a ruling will establish whether or not your claims will be rewarded with a settlement.
Let the CEO Lawyer Help You Win Your Case
The CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm has over twenty years of combined experience representing clients both in and out of the courtroom. Ali Awad, the CEO Lawyer, has a success rate of over 99.5%, so you can be confident that he will settle your case for only the maximum amount owed to you for your injuries and losses after an accident.
We are one of the fastest-growing law firms in the nation. Our injury and accident attorneys work on a contingency basis, which means we don’t get paid unless you get paid. If you would like to talk with one of our experienced lawyers, call (470) 323-8779 today for a no-obligation, no-cost consultation of your case.
