A California personal injury lawsuit can last from several months to years. How long it takes for your personal injury lawsuit to end depends on the severity of the injuries, the number of defendants, and the total and prospective financial expenses.
That said, each California personal injury claim is unique. Here's how California injury lawyers estimate how long your case might take:
Factors Affecting Your California Personal Injury Case
When you go to your first appointment or meeting with a Los Angeles injury lawyer, you might ask them, "how long will my case take?" Usually, attorneys can estimate after they've assessed your claim. Here are some of the factors that could affect that estimation:
Out-Of-Court Settlement Vs. Personal Injury Lawsuit In California
If you have a strong case with undeniable evidence, you might force a defendant into an out-of-court settlement. This means you won't have to face the judge and privately negotiate with the defendant and their lawyer.
If the defendant refuses to take responsibility, you and your California injury lawyer can file a lawsuit. You will present your personal injury case to a judge, and a jury will decide how much you'll receive in damages.
Regardless of which road you'll take, having a solid case backed by evidence is critical. Your Los Angeles injury lawyer can do their own investigations and help you compile evidence to support your claim.
Potential Catastrophic Injury Claims In California
Some injuries are more severe than others. Unfortunately, some accidents lead to life-altering injuries that lead to permanent disabilities. You might end up with very high medical expenses and grave emotional damages.
Catastrophic personal injury claims are often up for significant damages, so cases take longer than most. There could be millions of dollars at stake, depending on who is responsible, the circumstances surrounding your case, the death of a loved one, financial losses, and emotional damages.
Liable Parties In Your California Personal Injury Claim
Liable parties could be private individuals, a group, or a government agency. For example, your case could be about getting into a collision with another driver or a product liability claim against a product manufacturer. If you're going up against a government agency, the policies and deadlines differ from the other cases.
It's possible to have multiple defendants in a personal injury claim in California. For example, you could sue the driver, the car manufacturer, and the vehicle owner at the same time. Depending on your case, each defendant could also have varying degrees of fault.
Hence, a California injury lawyer needs to assess your case early on so that they can identify all liable parties in your California personal injury claim. Your lawyer can also help you gather and compile evidence to support your personal injury claim in California.
Comparative Fault Laws In California
You could be partially at fault in accidents. According to California's comparative fault law, the courts decide the percentage of fault each party has. This will affect how much you'll get (or have to pay) in damages in California.
For example, if you were 25% at fault and the total damages were $100,000, then $25,000 would be deducted from the damages awarded to you. This means you'll only get 75% or $75,000.
So, even if you were partially at fault for the accident, you can still collect damages. Consult your California personal injury lawyer ASAP to ensure the results are in your favor.
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