How Long Does It Take to Resolve a Personal Injury Case in Decatur, Alabama?
If you are thinking of filing a personal injury lawsuit in Decatur, Alabama, one of the top questions running through your mind is how long it will take to resolve the case. Well, the truth is that numerous variables determine how long it can take to resolve a personal injury case.
So, there’s no definite answer to how long it will take to resolve your case. Some might take longer to resolve, while others may be resolved swiftly. Get more info from experts in regards to this. Here are factors that will influence how long your personal injury case will take to settle in Decatur, Alabama.
1. The type of personal injury case
There are various personal injury claims, including medical malpractice, slip & fall claims, car accident claims, etc. All these can cause significant injuries to the victim. How long it takes to settle the case may vary depending on the details of the injury.
Some aspects of these cases require demonstrating negligence, a breach of duty care, contract violations, etc., that could have resulted in specific harm to a person. So, the time the lawyer will need to prove these depends on how many aspects are there to that case.
For instance, negligence may be hard to prove and fair compensation for it. The duration may also increase if an expert witness is needed to clarify specific issues.
2. How complicated the case is
Some issues may arise in a personal injury lawsuit that makes it challenging to continue and prove the claim. This is common in negligence, premises liability, injury-causing contracts, product liability, etc. Legal procedures may need an expert to clarify any confusion about the more complicated issue such as a forensic, electronic, or an accounting expert witness.
3. The severity of the injuries
How severely the victim is injured may also determine how fast the case will be resolved. Generally, severe injuries can result in an extended healing process, persistent or permanent impairments, and high medical costs.
Medical costs incurred by the victim are significant forms of compensation that the victim will obtain in a personal injury lawsuit in Alabama. When the statute of limitations is about to run out, the victim can still recover and receive regular medical care. Since claims are swiftly dismissed if made after the statute of limitations has expired, personal injury attorneys will be forced to file the claim in court even if the victim is unaware of the total amount of their medical expenses.
When this happens, a personal injury case will be filed to recover past-due expenditures and anticipated future medical bills. It’s hard to say how much medical intervention will be needed in the future. Defendants use this uncertainty to their advantage when offering settlement offers. They argue that there won’t be much demand for future medical care.
It can be challenging to persuade them to assist with the victim’s anticipated needs. This could prolong the litigation and delay the settlement.
4. Victim’s willingness to settle the case
Accident victims are often ready to settle their claims, accepting smaller settlement offers to speed up the case. Rising medical costs and lost income can make them fearful, but financial pressure can be overwhelming. Defendants and insurance providers often take advantage of this pressure to safeguard their assets, presenting lesser offers and accepting less than the victim is entitled to. A settlement can be reached quickly if the victim is ready to settle the case and willing to take less compensation than they are entitled to.
