A slip and fall accident can change a person’s life for the worse. That is why one of the most common personal injury questions is “How long will it take for the case to reach a settlement?” Every case is unique, so it is not possible to provide an exact answer to that question.
A personal injury attorney will analyze your case and provide you with the appropriate time frame.
How Long Does it Take to Settle a Slip & Fall Lawsuit
- File the lawsuit
- Wait for the property owner to answer your allegations
- Gather affidavits or depositions
- Reach a settlement or go to trail
The First Steps
You will have to take the two most important steps before you even contact a lawyer. You will need to gather the evidence and get medical attention. If you neglect to do either one of these, then you may not be able to file a claim. Your medical records will prove that you were injured. The evidence will be used to document exactly how you received the injuries.
After you have collected the evidence and received the medical attention that you needed, you will need to call an attorney. Your lawyer will be able to give you a timeline after looking at your medical records and the evidence.
In most cases, the attorney will negotiate with the insurance company in order to come up with a settlement. For example, if you filed a car accident claim, then the attorney will work with the auto insurance company. If you were hurt on someone’s property, then the attorney will work with the property owner’s insurance company.
A lawsuit will be filed if a settlement cannot be reached. This often happens in serious accidents when the person’s injuries cost more than what the insurance company is willing to pay.
The Pretrial Phase
The purpose of the pretrial is to find out as much information as possible about the accident. Attorneys will share all of the important information. A settlement can be reached, which will prevent the case from having to go to trial.
The case will have to go to trial if a settlement cannot be reached. The court will set the trial date. A case may be settled in just one day, or it may go on for several months. The losing party can prolong the case by filing an appeal.
While the vast majority of personal injury cases are settled by negotiation, some can be complicated and take a longer time to settle. That is why it is important for you to have the right attorney to represent you.