How long will it take to complete my case?

ANSWER: Here the answer is the same--that depends on the circumstances of your case and what you decide to do with it. There is simply no way to predict at the outset exactly how long a case will take other than to estimate average time lengths for settlement and trial. Since it takes several months to investigate and evaluate a case and several more months for the other side to do the same after an offer is made, most settlements take at least four to six months. Trial on the other hand requires a lot more time and effort to steer your case through the legal system and consequently the earliest a personal injury case can be tried is usually a year from the date work began and often longer. If the case is appealed, add another year on to the process and any retrial takes even longer. Settlement is faster than trial but there is no guarantee that settlement will occur. Whereas, if you try the case you will get a judgment, one way or another. Settlement and trial are not mutually exclusive in that many lawsuits are filed but settled before they are tried. Sometimes it is beneficial to file a case before you see if it can be settled. Other times it is a better idea to try to settle a case before you incur the costs of litigation. Only after we have fully investigated your case can we make recommendations on how to proceed and give you any idea of the time frame for completion.