The timeline for a personal injury claim starts from the moment of injury to when the compensation is paid. Whether you are dealing with a personal injury or need a Rollover Truck Accident Lawyer, the time it takes for the case to conclude could vary between a couple of months and a couple of years, depending on whether the claim is taken to court.
The personal injury claims process can get complicated, so hiring a lawyer makes it significantly easier. A personal injury lawyer will file your claim on time and fight for the compensation you deserve.
Timeline for a personal injury claim
Here are the various stages involved in a personal injury claim:
The accident
If you’re injured by the actions of others, for example, being hit by a car, you have the grounds to file a personal injury claim.
Several types of accidents are covered by personal injury law. These include, but are not limited to:
· Car accidents
· Dog bites
· Slip and falls
· Medical malpractice
· Defective products
· Accidents at work
· Wrongful death
Medical treatment
The first thing to do after an accident is to seek medical treatment. Make sure you’re safe, and contact emergency services if you’ve been severely injured.
Treatment for your wounds could include:
· First aid for your wounds
· Prescription medication to avoid infection from wounds
· A full-body examination with tests to look for internal injuries, such as concussions
· Surgery, if your wounds are complicated
· Rehabilitation to recover from severe injuries
· A referral to a therapist to help you overcome trauma from an accident
The costs of medical treatment and the time it takes to recover from injuries affect the damages you can claim. A competent lawyer will include all such expenses in your compensation claim.
The law also contains provisions that halt the statute of limitations until the victim has received the necessary medical treatment for injuries caused by the accident.
Consult a lawyer
Once your wounds are treated, you should consult a personal injury lawyer. Most law firms offer a free first consultation.
At your first consultation with a law firm, you will meet a lawyer and discuss the specifics of your case.
You will be guided by the possible courses of action you can take based on the specifics of your case.
When discussing the case with your lawyer, you should be honest and not hide any details. For example, you should let your lawyer know if you made a mistake that contributed to the accident. Your actions affect the outcome of your case, and your lawyer will not be able to defend you well if they’re unaware of the details.
Investigation
The lawyer then investigates your case to understand how the accident happened. To prove your claim, there has to be evidence to support your version of the events.
Often, with accidents, it’s challenging to figure out the exact course of events, so a lot of research is needed. This could involve:
1. Asking the victim questions to get an idea of the course of events
2. Interviewing possible eyewitnesses to support your claims
3. Gathering evidence, like security footage or any videos related to the incident
4. Talking to experts to understand the facts of the case, like a car crash expert
5. Researching the law for precedents to support your case
Negotiation
Once the details have been determined, the next stage is negotiation. This is usually with an insurance company or the party financially responsible for the accident.
Your lawyer will file a demand for compensation, and the other party will assess the offer. The other party may debate the details of your claim.
For example, they may say that the cost of rehabilitation therapy is too high. They may then offer a counteroffer, which your lawyer can accept or contest.
Both parties then go back and forth until they can agree on the specifics of the case and the amount of compensation.
If an agreement can be reached at this stage, the claim will be settled without being taken to court.
Court hearings
If an agreement cannot be reached through negotiation, the next stage is to take the case to court. There are several stages in a court process:
· You will file a summons identifying the parties responsible for a personal injury lawsuit
· A copy of the summons must be served to each defendant
· The defendant will respond to your complaint
· The details of the case are presented in court
· Hearings take place to decide the details of the case
· The jury or judge pronounces the verdict
Conclusion
In summary, there are several stages in a personal injury claim, from the accident to consulting a lawyer to filing a claim and taking it to court.
The process of filing a claim for a personal injury can range from a couple of months to a couple of years. The shortest duration for a claim to be settled is around a year.
If you’ve been involved in an accident, reach out to a legal professional to understand what your options are.
