Timeline of a Personal Injury Case According to a Lancaster Personal Injury Lawyer
Being involved in an accident can have stressful or devastating consequences, such as injuries, medical bills, and lost wages. If someone else’s negligent conduct caused the accident, you may be able to recover compensation for your losses.
Whether you were injured in a car accident, a slip and fall, or some other type of accident, you will need to file a personal injury claim to recover compensation. Hiring an experienced personal injury lawyer is an excellent first step in the process.
How long your case takes to resolve after that will vary from case to case. But while it’s hard to estimate how long it will take to recover compensation in your case, it’s helpful to understand the basic timeline of a personal injury case.
Below are the core steps that take place in most personal injury cases. Several steps may be ongoing at the same time, or, in some cases, they may take place in a different order.
Investigate the Accident
After you’ve hired an attorney, they will begin investigating the accident to better understand how it occurred and to identify the at-fault party.
While investigating the accident, your attorney may request a copy of the police report, obtain images taken at the accident scene, track down witnesses, and take their statements. They may also consult with experts as needed to reconstruct the accident or bolster your claims. Your attorney will also contact the insurance company to initiate your claim and monitor its progress during the insurance investigation.
Get Medical Treatment for Your Injuries
It’s important that you seek medical attention promptly after your accident. This will help diagnose any latent injuries and get you on the road to recovery as soon as possible. It’s also necessary to support your claims when you seek financial recovery.
Wait for Maximum Medical Recovery
The severity of your injuries and the length of your recovery will impact how long your case takes to settle. When possible, your attorney may wait until you’ve completely recovered before demanding a settlement from the insurance company.
However, if your accident caused permanent disabilities or impairments, complete recovery may not be possible. In this case, once you’ve reached maximum medical recovery, your doctor can provide a prognosis. Your attorney can then demand a settlement, taking into account the lasting impacts of your injuries. If you were to pursue your personal injury claim or demand a settlement too soon, you risk underestimating the amount of your damages.
Submit a Settlement Demand Letter
Your attorney will then prepare a settlement demand letter to send to the opposing party’s insurance company. The letter will outline the facts of the case, the basis for finding the opposing party at fault, the extent of your damages, and the amount of a settlement sought.
Negotiate a Settlement Agreement
Once the insurance company receives the settlement offer, it will undergo a review process. When the company responds, it’s likely that they will return a counteroffer for a much lower amount or that they will dispute some of your allegations.
At this point, your attorney will review the counteroffer and advise you on whether they think it is fair and reasonable. If not, and you agree not to accept it, your attorney will continue negotiations with the insurance company to see if a favorable settlement can be reached. This phase could take several weeks or even longer.
File a Personal Injury Lawsuit
If a favorable settlement can’t be reached, your attorney may recommend filing a personal injury lawsuit. The duration of a personal injury lawsuit will be impacted by things such as the complexity of the issues, the parties involved, and even the court’s calendar. However, the majority of cases will be settled before proceeding to trial.
An Experienced Lancaster Personal Injury Can Guide You Through the Process
If you were injured in an accident in Lancaster, SC, reach out to an experienced personal injury attorney soon after your accident to begin the personal injury claim process. Your attorney will help you seek compensation for all of your damages, including medical bills, lost wages, and more.
Contact Elrod Pope Accident & Injury Attorneys for a free case review at 803-902-7065 with an experienced Lancaster personal injury attorney. We will help you understand your options and what we can do for you.
Contact The Lancaster Personal Injury Lawyers At Elrod Pope Accident & Injury Attorneys For Help Today
For more information, please contact our Personal Injury lawyers in South Carolina at Elrod Pope Accident & Injury Attorneys to schedule a free consultation today.
We proudly serve York County, Lancaster County, and its surrounding areas:
Elrod Pope Accident & Injury Attorneys – Rock Hill Office
212 E Black St,
Rock Hill, SC 29730
(803) 324-7574
Open 24hrs
Elrod Pope Accident & Injury Attorneys – Lancaster Office
204 A S Main St,
Lancaster, SC 29720
(803) 902-7065
Open 24hrs
Elrod Pope Accident & Injury Attorneys – Fort Mill Office
1201 Carolina Pl Suite 102D,
Fort Mill, SC 29708
(803) 902-4045
Open 24hrs
Elrod Pope Accident & Injury Attorneys – Lake Wylie Office
264 Latitude Ln #102A,
Lake Wylie, SC 29710
(803) 902-3608
Open 24hrs