Suffering an injury caused by another person seems to be a rather straightforward claims process, but it rarely is. The timeline of a Jackson personal injury lawsuit will certainly range widely based on the severity of the case, as well as whether the insurance company agrees with your claims. Depending on those factors, it could take six months, a year, or even longer to recover damages. Talk to a Jackson personal injury lawyer about your case.
Expected Process of a Personal Injury Lawsuit
The more straightforward the claim is, the less time the process will take. However, if the insurance company does not settle fairly with you out of court, you could end up filing a lawsuit, which extends the entire process. You can expect the following basic personal injury claims and lawsuit timeline in Jackson.
Investigation
The first step of the process is a full investigation by a personal injury attorney to determine the losses and the cause of the accident. The process can become drawn out when there is no consensus on either of those factors. However, consider the following:
- Insurance companies may aim to settle fast if they expect that you are owed more damages than you realize.
- If you have substantial injuries, recovering can take numerous months. It becomes challenging to file an insurance claim if you do not know the extent of your damages from injuries.
Negotiations
Once you are ready to file a comprehensive claim, you will submit all of the evidence and documentation to the at-fault party’s insurance company. Your attorney will handle the negotiations for you, potentially reducing the risk that you will have to deal with the insurance company’s aggressiveness yourself. If you agree, the funds are paid to you within a matter of weeks.
Going to Court
Unfortunately, some personal injury cases will carry on longer because the insurance company does not agree with your claim. They may delay the process for numerous reasons. If you file a claim in a court of law, you can expect the process to become more complex.
There will be a period from the filing until the court deems a hearing necessary for further investigation, during which you may have to answer questions from the other party. If no negotiation is reached during this process, a court hearing is set.
Factors That Contribute to The Jackson Personal Injury Lawsuit Timeline
Expect the process to move forward based on factors such as the following:
- The severity of injuries and the length of time it takes for you to recover from them
- The number of parties at fault, with more parties often causing additional delays
- Disputes about liability and who is to blame can extend the timeline
- How much evidence is available to substantiate your claims
- Whether or not the at-fault party is willing to negotiate
- The number of cases ahead of yours in the Jackson courts
There is no simple timeframe or process to follow. Yet, when you are hurt due to another person’s negligence, you should not feel like you have to settle for less just to recover damages. Rather, reach out to and work closely with your Jackson personal injury attorney to determine the best course of action. Your lawyer will help you decide when you can negotiate and when you should continue to court.