You should expect months, or even years, of gathering evidence and trying to persuade the judge that this evidence should or should not be used in the trial, and your case will most likely settle before it reaches the trial stage.
Some people who contact personal injury lawyers after suffering financial hardship due to an accidental injury are surprised to find out that the lawyer can get them enough money to cover their medical bills without filing a lawsuit. Sometimes all it takes to resolve a personal injury claim is for your lawyer to send some emails and make some phone calls. If your lawyer advises you to file a lawsuit, do not immediately start seeing dollar signs before your eyes. It means that getting your money will take more work than just your lawyer talking to the insurance company on your behalf. Winning a personal injury lawsuit at trial is not a sure thing, but the good news is that the defendant will probably reach a settlement with you before your case ever gets to trial. Your Boca Raton personal injury lawyer can give you sound advice at every stage of the process.
Discovery in Personal Injury Lawsuits
Between the time the plaintiff (the injured person) files the lawsuit in court, also sending a copy of it to the defendant (the person or company legally responsible for the accident) and the time of the trial is usually more than a year. The period in between is called discovery. During the discovery phase of the case, the lawyers for the plaintiff and defendant request documents from each other and take depositions (interviews with witnesses) of people who have relevant information about the case. They also frequently meet with the judge when they disagree about whether the other party should be allowed to see a certain piece of evidence or discuss the evidence in front of a jury. The judge sets a trial date when discovery begins, but it often gets postponed at least once.
Arbitration, Mediation, and Summary Judgment
There are several ways a case can end other than a jury returning a verdict on which the judge bases their ruling. Early in discovery, the parties can agree to resolve the case through mediation or arbitration instead of having a trial. Likewise, the defendant may try to get the court to issue a summary judgment, in which it declares that it is not possible to win the case. Likewise, the defendant might offer to settle the case outside of court for an amount of money the plaintiff considers fair.
Isn’t This Expensive?
If you have heard about the hourly rates that some types of lawyers request, you might worry that all of this is unaffordable. Many personal injury lawyers accept payment on contingency, where you pay your lawyer after receiving your settlement or damages award, but not before.
Contact Ged Lawyers About Personal Injury Lawsuits That Go to Court
A personal injury lawyer can help you resolve your case with or without a jury trial. Contact Ged Lawyers in Boca Raton, Florida to discuss your case.
