Personal Injury Lawsuit Timeline
If you or someone you love suffered injuries because of someone else’s carelessness, recklessness, or negligence, the typical personal injury lawsuit timeline varies. It depends on whether your case is resolved at trial or with an out-of-court settlement. The settlement process typically leads to receiving compensation sooner than a lengthy trial.
When our personal injury team represents you, we explain the anticipated timeline of your claim. We also describe each step of the compensation timeline, keep you updated as your case progresses, and work hard to resolve your case in a timely fashion. In addition, our team represents you on a contingency fee basis, meaning we do not get paid unless you recover monetary damages.
Breaking Down the Stages of a Typical Compensation Timeline
Recovering compensation after an accidental injury will involve several steps. Negotiating a financial settlement is often a shorter route. When we take on your case, our team will:
- Review your case
- Prove negligence and liability
- Assign a value to your case
- Request compensation
- Negotiate a settlement
If the at-fault party or their insurer makes an acceptable settlement offer, your case is resolved at this point. They will remit payment to our office. At that point, we will deduct our fees and forward the remainder to you. If your case proceeds to trial, additional steps might include conducting discovery and taking depositions.
When you choose an accident lawyer Columbia SC from our firm, you can rest assured we will fight aggressively for your rightful compensation. Your attorney will explain everything you need to know about the preponderance of evidence as your burden of proof, the difference between a bench and a jury trial, and witnesses’ testimonies. We they will proceed to filing the proper paperwork (the complaint), examine the evidence, investigate the accident’s circumstances, talk to witnesses and experts, etc. The plaintiff is usually a key-witness in such trials, so your attorney will prepare you as well for everything that’s about to come.
The Statute of Limitations Is a Critical Part of Your Timeline
When you or someone you love is injured in South Carolina, S.C. Ann. § 15-3-530 dictates the amount of time you have to file a lawsuit against the at-fault party. You generally have up to three years to meet:
- The personal injury statute of limitations
- The wrongful death statute of limitations
Compliance is critical because noncompliance can have costly consequences. If you do not file before time expires, the court will likely bar you from filing, and you can’t compel the negligent party to cover your financial expenses and losses.
For a free legal consultation, call 803-222-2222
Damages You Can Recover for Your Injuries and Injury-Related Expenses
Understanding and calculating your recoverable damages on your own can prove challenging. According to S.C. Ann. § 15-32-210, you can request these damages as part of your personal injury case:
- Economic damages: This category includes current and future medical bills and lost income. They also include the repair or replacement value of your personal property, travel costs to and from required medical treatments, and any in-home medical and domestic support needed during your recovery.
- Noneconomic damages: These intangible awards compensate you for short- and long-term physical disabilities, impairments, and disfigurement. You are also entitled to compensation for mental and emotional distress and current and future pain and suffering.
Our team will help you assess your damages and calculate their value. We also help you compile the documentation that demonstrates their value and present it to the at-fault party.
Our Personal Injury Practice Areas
When you are injured in an accident, it can be difficult to classify all the damages involved in your request for compensation. We understand what constitutes a personal injury case and the timeline necessary to build a solid case for financial recovery. Our personal injury team represents clients in these categories:
- Dog bites
- Mass torts
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Wrongful death
- Bicycle accidents
- Boating accidents
- Medical malpractice
- Slip and fall injuries
- Motorcycle accidents
If you were injured in an accident caused by another person’s negligent actions, our team helps you build a compelling case for financial recovery. We also negotiate with the at-fault party for an appropriate settlement.
According to the U.S. Government statistics, only about 5% of personal injury cases go to trial, the rest of them being settled out of court. However, if the at-fault party does not offer satisfactory compensation, you should know that your Columbia car accident lawyer will file a complaint and take your case to a bench trial or a jury trial if necessary. You don’t have to worry about anything, because your lawyer will oversee discovery, depositions, expert testimonies, and so on. Once everything is ready, they will zealously represent you in court, so you get the just compensation you deserve.
Explore Our Recent South Carolina Client Results
When a client comes to our law firm for help resolving their personal injury case, we fight hard for the financial compensation they are entitled to receive. Previous personal injury clients received the following monetary awards:
- $50,000,000 jury verdict for the surviving family members of a motorcycle accident fatality
- $5,000,000 judgment for a car accident victim who was injured in a hit and run collision
- $2,600,000 judgment for the surviving family members of a passenger killed in a stolen vehicle
- $1,900,000 decision for the surviving family of a man who was fatally injured in a motorcycle accident
Our personal injury team negotiates zealously for sufficient compensation for the clients we represent. You can browse our case results page for more examples of verdicts and settlements we obtained for previous clients.
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Get a No-Cost Review of Your Personal Injury Case
If you or someone you love suffered injuries in an accident caused by negligence, you could receive financial compensation. Learn more about the personal injury lawsuit timeline and how hard our team fights for you by contacting a member of our Anastopoulo Law Firm team at (800) 777-7777 today.
Call or text 803-222-2222 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form