How Long Do Personal Injury Lawsuits Last?
The law firm of Younker Hyde Macfarlane believes in helping people who have been injured as a result of negligence. So many people who have been injured or who have loved ones who are injured come to our Salt Lake City personal injury law firm knowing that we can offer expert legal counsel, covering broad strategies to the kind of minutia that only skilled litigators would understand.
A common question we receive concerns the length of legal cases and what can affect that timeframe. Let's look at this issue in a bit more detail.
Average Duration Can Vary Greatly
Since the nature of every case can vary a great deal, it should come as no surprise that the duration of a personal injury lawsuit can vary.
For a general sense of the timeframe involved, we can cite a 2007 study by the United States Department of Justice. This study revealed that it took roughly 27.5 months for medical malpractice cases to come to a successful resolution. This accounted for cases that are settled as well as cases that go to trial.
Keep in mind that while some personal injury cases might be resolved relatively quickly, others may drag on for many years.
Factors That Affect Length of Personal Injury Cases
Some factors that can affect the length of a personal injury lawsuit include:
- Issues determining liability for an injury
- Issues determining damages in a case
- A large monetary reward as at stake in the case
- Medical treatment for an injury sustained is still in progress
- Maximum medical improvement (i.e., the fullest extent of recovery) has not been achieved
By working with an attorney like one from out firm, rest assured that we will work diligently in order to achieve a resolution to your case in a timely manner.
Settlements and Trials: Affect on Duration
A major factor that will affect the length of your case is whether or not your lawsuit is settled out of court or goes all the way to trial. Cases that go to trial will necessarily last longer than cases that are settled before going to trial.
Some cases might better serve clients and the public at large if they proceed to trial. In other cases, we made suggest taking the legal settlement. This kind of advice and counsel is important given the pros and cons and unforeseen consequences of opting with one option rather than the other.
Hung Juries and Mistrials Can Extend Duration
If your case goes to trial and ends in a hung jury, this can greatly extend the length of your case. In such cases, a mistrial may be called for, meaning that the case will need to be heard again before a brand new jury. This can literally add years to to your case, so it's important to keep this in mind as you make choices about bringing a case to court.
Start Your Case as Soon as Possible
Given the amount of time that lawsuits can take, you probably understand why it's so imperative that you get your case started as soon as possible. Do not delay. Even though personal injury cases have a statute of limitations in place, getting the legal ball rolling as soon as possible is a smart idea for everyone involved in the case.
Contact the Lawyers of Younker Hyde Macfarlane
To learn more about your legal options in accident and injury lawsuits, it's important that you contact our personal injury law firm today. The attorneys of Younker Hyde Macfarlane will work with you and help you make smart choices with your well being and your loved ones in mind.
