The short answer is that how long your car accident case takes depends on the circumstances of the claim. No matter how eager you are to settle your car accident claim, there are contributing factors that may impact the time it takes for the case to conclude.
Call the Law Office of Jason R. Schultz, PC at 404-474-0804 to discuss your claim.
How Long Your Medical Treatment Takes
You should never settle your injury claim before you recuperate as much as possible. You should be fully aware of your healthcare needs and how your injuries will affect your life.
Rather than quickly accepting a settlement check from the insurance company, first consult with your car accident lawyer. Confirm that the compensation is fair and addresses all of your health requirements including long-term care, short-term care, and physical therapy.
Once you agree to settle your case, you cannot reopen it later. The Law Office of Jason R. Schultz, PC is available to answer your questions. Call us today at 404-474-0804 to discuss your claim.
Your Car Accident Lawyer May Hire Expert Witnesses
Your car accident lawyer might decide that it is appropriate to hire an expert witness to testify about something in the case. Expert witnesses in car crash cases may testify about:
- The cause of the accident (accident reconstruction expert)
- The extent of your injuries (medical expert)
- The impact of your injuries on the quality of your life and your ability to support yourself through gainful employment (vocational and medical experts)
Pre-Trial Discovery – Interrogatories, Document Exchange, and Depositions
After your lawyer files a lawsuit, both sides will engage in pre-trial discovery. When your lawyer sends interrogatories (written questions the other side must answer under oath), the other party may have weeks to provide the written responses. You may also have to attend a deposition and testify under oath.
If you ask for documents from the other side, it can take a month or more before you get the papers you requested. It can take several months to obtain records from third parties.
Trial or Settlement
If your case goes to trial, it can increase the length of your case. But your case can settle at almost any time. You can resolve a claim before you even file a lawsuit. Some cases settle during the discovery stage. If you go to trial, you can still reach an amicable resolution with the other side before the trial concludes.
Call the Law Office of Jason R. Schultz, PC at 404-474-0804 to set up a free consultation about your case.