By Grace
Accident scenarios and personal injury cases are unique. Thus, if you sustained injuries due to another person’s fault and you want to take action, you cannot expect a standard timeline for your case. Your personal injury’s duration depends on some factors, but a personal injury lawyer in Cedar Rapids can help ensure you don’t prolong the process even further. The following are factors that can influence the duration of your case:
The Seriousness of Your Injuries
If you want to file a personal injury claim or lawsuit, you should avoid settling your case early in the process. This is because you have yet to reach maximum medical improvement (MMI), which means you still do not know the full extent of your injuries and damages. If you have suffered more serious injuries, it will take more time to reach MMI, prolonging the proceedings.
The Complexity of Your Injury Case
Unless the circumstances surrounding the accident are straightforward, you may not be able to reach a resolution to your case quickly. In complex personal injury cases, proving liability is often challenging, extending the amount of time needed to resolve your case. This is particularly expected if your case involves several parties and a huge amount of compensation demand.
The Willingness of the Defendant to Settle the Case
If the negligent party responsible for the accident acknowledges liability and wants to offer a reasonable payout, you can cut months or years off your case’s timeline by settling out of court. But if the defendant does not want to cooperate, your injury case may need to move through each litigation stage to pursue a favorable recovery.
The Number of Defendants
If several parties are responsible for causing the accident and your injuries, you must ensure all of them are named in your lawsuit. This can increase your chances of securing reasonable compensation; however, it might result in disputes about liability apportioning.
The Caseload of the Jurisdiction
If the defendant does not want to settle the case and you take your case to court, the current caseload of the court will significantly affect its timeline. For instance, if there is a backlog of lawsuits in the jurisdiction, this can delay your case by weeks or months.
If you sustained serious injuries due to the negligence of another party, contact a personal injury attorney as soon as possible. Your attorney will determine how to best proceed. They will thoroughly investigate the accident and collect the necessary evidence to prove damages and liability.