If you have sustained personal injuries due to the negligence of another party, recovering damages can take a lot of time. While some claims can be settled in a matter of months, others can end up in court. Personal injury trials can take a longer time to resolve. So, to make sure you don’t drag your possible case further, contact a good Louisville Personal Injury Lawyer as soon as possible after you sustained an injury. Read on to know why personal injury cases take a long time to be settled:
Investigations Must be Performed
After your attorney agrees to take your case, they will investigate your case to collect related evidence. Their investigation can include accident reconstruction, deposition, witness and defendant location, as well as medical record discussions and reviews. When the lawyer understands what occurred, who was at fault for the accident, and the extent of the injuries you sustained, they can create a demand letter that will initiate settlement negotiations with the at-fault party or their insurer.
In addition, the insurance company will also investigate your accident. They will get testimony from witnesses and secure other information related to your injuries.
Attorneys Negotiate Settlements
The defendant or their insurance provider may make a settlement offer to try to resolve your claim as quickly as possible. However, this offer may be way lower than what you deserve for your injuries and losses. That is why your attorney will make counteroffers until both parties will reach a reasonable agreement. This can take time as the parties try to avoid litigation, which can be costlier than settlements.
Litigation Can Occur
If the other party refuses to pay the compensation you demand, your attorney can file a lawsuit against them and take your case to court. Litigation can take years to complete. When your case ends up in court, a lot of processes can take place. These include finding the defendant and serving a court summon, allowing the defendant to respond to the summon, initiating the discovery process, scheduling a deposition, filing pretrial motions, starting a trial, and rendering a verdict.
If you win a settlement or verdict, eh loser or the losing party will make a final judgment or settlement agreement. This document must be reviewed by your attorney before it is sent for signatures. When each party is satisfied with the document, they will sign it. Then, the lawyer forwards a final judgment to the court to be signed by the judge.
