While it’s recommended to spring into action the moment a personal injury happens, many people ask, “How long does a personal injury lawsuit take?” Unfortunately, there is no set time frame, and each lawsuit varies from case to case.
However, generally, you can expect to resolve the key aspects of a personal injury lawsuit in the first few months, with the remainder of the process typically taking a year (sometimes longer). Factors that impact the total timeline of a case include:
- The extent of the damages: A personal injury lawsuit caused by a broken arm or a sprained ankle will take much less time to resolve than a traumatic brain injury. The greater the extent of damages, the more time it takes for the lawsuit to be resolved.
- The liability and parties involved: Sometimes, a personal injury lawsuit has a clear plaintiff and defendant. However, establishing liability can sometimes be trickier. For example, if a commercial truck driver caused the accident, their company may be liable for the incident—which would lengthen the process.
- The other party’s willingness to cooperate: The other party’s insurance company might not be willing to cooperate. They may claim you had pre-existing medical conditions, provide a low settlement amount, or outright refuse to take your calls or negotiate. When this happens, pursuing litigation is necessary.
- If a case goes to court: Most personal injury cases are settled outside the courtroom. However, the select few that go to trial generally take much longer before everything is resolved.
The total time frame it takes to resolve a personal injury lawsuit can vary, but when you contact Angel Reyes – Reyes Browne Law Firm at (469) 751-4364, you can schedule a free consultation. Here, our team will give you a rough idea of how long your case might take.
