How Long Does a Personal Injury Lawsuit Take in Florida?
It is not possible to determine precisely how long any case will take, because every personal injury occurs under unique circumstances. While the statute of limitations in Florida gives you two years to file a lawsuit, this does not determine how long your case will take to resolve.
If you or a loved one sustained a preventable injury due to a car crash, slip and fall, or another accident, our personal injury lawyers in your area can protect your rights and manage your lawsuit on your behalf, no matter how long it takes.
These Factors Can Affect the Progression of Your Personal Injury Lawsuit
Personal injury cases can be complex, and it is not uncommon for multiple parties to be involved, including individuals, businesses, government entities, and insurance companies. Circumstances such as these can significantly affect how rapidly your case progresses and how long it will take to secure compensation.
Other factors that could affect the timeline of your case include:
The Strength of Your Florida Case’s Evidence
The more evidence your case has, the more willing the insurer could be to negotiate. When you hire one of our personal injury lawyers, we can find and use the following information to bolster your case:
- The accident/police report from the Florida Highway Patrol or other law enforcement agency
- Eyewitness testimony
- Information from field consultants, such as accident reconstruction specialists
- Your medical records
- Receipts, invoices, and bills stemming from your damages
The Connection Between Negligence and Personal Injury
Many personal injury cases hinge on the principle of proving negligence. This involves showing that you were injured and have damages because another party acted negligently. Your case needs to show that:
- The party you are suing had a duty to behave reasonably
- The at-fault party did not fulfill that duty
- The accident only occurred because of the at-fault party’s negligence
- Your injuries only occurred because of the negligence-related accident
The Nature and Severity of Your Personal Injury
The time you need to heal from your injuries is a primary factor in determining how long it will take to settle your case. You do not want to accept compensation from the insurance company only to have your condition worsen and require additional medical care that is not covered by your settlement.
The injuries listed below are all examples of conditions that often require long recovery times and, as a result, can add to the duration of your personal injury case:
- Head and skull injuries
- Concussions and traumatic brain injuries
- Neck and back injuries
- Broken bones and crush injuries
- Cuts and lacerations
- Chest injuries
- Spinal cord injuries, including partial or complete paralysis
Your Florida Case’s Unique Circumstances
The circumstances surrounding your accident can affect the duration of your case. These factors can include:
- Whether you had a pre-existing health condition. The insurance company may question or contest the severity of your injury if you already had a health condition before your accident. For instance, someone with osteoporosis may be more prone to bone breaks in a collision. In a situation like this, one of our lawyers in Florida could consult with field experts and gather additional evidence to support your claim.
- The identity of the at-fault party. The role of the at-fault party in your accident may influence how your case moves forward. It is not always clear who the responsible party is, but our accident injury lawyers can help you build a case against them. For example, if you suffered a hit-and-run accident, it takes time to identify the at-fault party and hold them liable.
How Long it Takes the Liable Insurance Company to Respond
Some insurers are very responsive and express eagerness to negotiate. Yet, others can stall investigations and fail to respond in a timely manner. Unfortunately, it is not always possible to influence the timeframe in which an insurer processes your claim and responds to your demand letter.
In this instance, our personal injury attorneys in Florida can move your case forward and prevent any stalling tactics from the insurer.
Filing a Personal Injury Lawsuit Can Affect Your Case’s Progression
While most personal injury cases end with insurance settlements, every situation is different. Sometimes, injured people have to file lawsuits to recover damages. As one can imagine, filing a lawsuit takes time. It involves:
- Filing your lawsuit within the statute of limitations (Florida Statutes § 95.11)
- Initiating the discovery process, where both sides share information and evidence
- Taking interrogatories and depositions
- Undertaking pre-trial motions (such as requesting to have certain evidence dismissed)
- Going to mediation or arbitration (if required or possible)
- Presenting your case before a judge and/or jury
- Awaiting the final verdict
It takes time to assemble the parties needed to testify at trial, plus it can take weeks for the court to add your lawsuit to the docket.
Why Filing a Florida Personal Injury Lawsuit Is Important
You should not let concern about the length of a lawsuit prevent you from seeking damages. It could be your only option for recovering financial compensation after a:
- Bicycle accident
- Boat accident
- Bus accident
- Car accident
- Motorcycle accident
- Pedestrian accident
- Truck accident
- Dog bite
- Slip and fall or other premises liability accident
How Long Does a Personal Injury Settlement Take in Florida?
It can still take months or years for your legal team to collect evidence and negotiate a fair settlement, even if your personal injury attorney is able to avoid the lengthy process of going to trial and recover a pretrial settlement for you.
Personal Injury Settlements Versus Jury Awards
The big difference between a settlement and a jury award is that the settlement is negotiated out of court, while a jury award is money that a jury of your peers orders the responsible party to pay you for your damages.
Both settlements and jury awards allow you to recover financial compensation for a wide range of damages, including:
- Medical expenses
- Property damage
- Loss of wages
- Pain and suffering
- Reduced quality of life
Could Hiring a Florida Personal Injury Lawyer Make Your Case Move Faster?
There are many aspects of a legal action that you (and your personal injury attorney) cannot control, so there is no guarantee that retaining legal representation could make your case move faster. However, it can streamline many aspects of the claims process. When you entrust your case to our accident lawyers, we can:
- File your lawsuit within Florida’s two-year statute of limitations
- Write and send your demand letter
- Negotiate a fair settlement
- Protect you from bad-faith insurance practices
- Prepare to go to trial
- Fight for you in the courtroom
You need and deserve fair compensation as soon as possible, but you do not need to pursue that money on your own. No matter how long your personal injury lawsuit takes, our Florida law firm can fight by your side the whole way.
Begin Your Free Case Review With Our Florida Personal Injury Attorneys
It could take weeks, months, or even years for your personal injury case to end. When you partner with Meldon Law, our lawyers take on your legal fight like it was our own, and we promise not to back down when seeking financial recovery. To find out how we can fight for you, no matter how long your personal injury lawsuit takes in Florida, call us today for a free case review.
