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What Can I Expect to Happen in a Personal Injury Case?

If you’ve been injured due to someone else’s negligence, you deserve compensation for your injuries. Your first step is to contact a personal injury attorney. Most personal injury attorneys offer a free initial consultation. At this meeting, you will discuss the details of your situation and the attorney will give you an initial assessment of whether you have a legal case to pursue damages against the other party.

If they feel you have a case, the next step will be for your attorney to investigate the case in further detail. Some of the ways that they do this include reviewing your medical records, interviewing witnesses, reviewing camera footage, and speaking with experts. Based on their findings, they will calculate the value of your case. Your attorney will contact the opposing party’s insurance company with the total dollar amount that you are seeking in compensation.

The insurance company likely will either deny the claim or offer a much smaller amount to see if you will settle for less than your case is worth. Your attorney and the insurance company may negotiate back and forth for several rounds to see if they can come to an agreement. In some cases, the insurance company will eventually relent and pay you what your case is worth. When this happens, they will send you a check and your case is complete.

In other cases, the insurance company will refuse to make a serious offer. When this happens, your attorney will file a lawsuit against the opposing party. According to Florida’s laws, you have two years from the incident to file the lawsuit. The first phase of a lawsuit is the discovery phase, which can last several months, and sometimes more than a year. In this period, both parties request information, depositions, and documents from one another. Once both sides are ready, they may try to mediate the dispute rather than going to court. Mediation can be faster and less expensive than a court trial. If both sides can come to a resolution during mediation, then you will receive your payment and your case is over.

If the opposing party still won’t relent, the final step is a court trial, which can last from one day to several weeks, depending on the complexity of the case. In a trial, either a judge or jury will determine how much compensation you can receive.

The specific length of time it will take to resolve your case will depend on its complexity and dollar value, how compelling the evidence is, how easy or difficult the opposing party is to work with, and how long the court takes to schedule your case. When you work with ECanter Lawyers, we keep you informed on your case’s progress every step of the way. Contact us today to learn how we can help you secure the compensation you deserve.

ECanter Lawyers

When you are dealing with the chaos and pain of accidents and personal injuries, the last thing you need is technical, confusing legal language.  ECanter Lawyers breaks down the complexities and provides clear, informative answers so that you understand your legal options. 

For a quarter of a century, ECanter Lawyers has remained committed to honest, straightforward answers.  Named one of AVVO’s Clients’ Choice, ECanter Lawyers has helped clients receive multi-million-dollar verdicts, and millions of dollars in settlements.  ECanter Lawyers specializes in personal injury, motor vehicle accidents, medical malpractice, premises and product liability, and healthcare law.

With offices conveniently located throughout South Florida and 24/7 services, ECanter Lawyers personal injury law firm offers you the personalized attention that you need in order to maximize your compensation. 

ECanter Lawyers

561-447-4500

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