Whether you have been made a victim of an auto accident, property damage, medical malpractice, or otherwise, you may have a personal injury claim on your hands. Federal and state laws alike have certain standards for how these claim proceedings should be conducted. Continue reading to learn what you should expect the process of a personal injury case to look like and how an experienced Hillsborough County personal injury lawyer at Merricks Law Group, P.A. can walk you through every step of the way.
What should I expect the process of a personal injury case to look like?
No two personal injury claims appear the same. But this is not to say that they follow different processes. Without further ado, below is a general guideline for what you should expect of your personal injury case proceedings:
- Your meeting with a lawyer: you and your lawyer will review the specifics of your personal injury action and finalize which legal strategy is best to take.
- Your initialization of the case: you and your lawyer will fill out the initial paperwork for your claim, along with a Notice of Claim if necessary.
- Your discovery process: you and your lawyer will collect and submit evidence that ties your injuries and damages to the defendant’s negligence.
- Your trial: you and your lawyer will make motions and arguments to the jury regarding the defendant’s negligence.
- Your verdict: the jury will rule on whether the defendant is at fault or not at fault for your injuries and damages.
- Your collection: if the verdict rules in your favor, then you may begin collecting payments from the negligent party.
Of note, you may choose to enter a settlement agreement with the defendant to avoid an extensive timeline that comes with the trial.
How long is this process going to take?
Both the National Center for State Courts and the United States Department of Justice report that the average personal injury case takes one to three years to process. This timeline starts at the moment you sit down at your initial consultation with a lawyer and ends at the time you collect your final payment from the negligent party.
This year or so of commitment may make you hesitate in taking the plunge. But you must understand that this may be the most ideal opportunity for recovering your damages and achieving justice over the negligent party. If you put the right amount of effort toward building a successful claim, then it may all be worth it in the end.
With all things considered, there is no time like the present to get your legal case in order. So pick up the phone and call a skilled Hillsborough County personal injury lawyer from Merricks Law Group, P.A. today. We are looking forward to it.
