If you have been injured due to the fault of others, you may quite normally be wondering how long a personal injury case will take in Oklahoma, should you decide to pursue one. Unfortunately, there is no clear-cut answer to this question. Even the most experienced personal injury attorneys in Oklahoma know the length of a personal injury case depends on a variety of factors, such as the seriousness of your injuries, the complexities of your personal injury case and the circumstances that contributed to your injury.
Each case differs, so it’s quite difficult to give an accurate prediction. If the complexities of the case require you to go to court, time must be estimated to account for the trial as well as an appeal. It is often preferable not to have to go to court, but may be necessary in order to receive everything that you deserve. Typically, a lawsuit is required when the other party’s insurance company disagrees with who is at fault or the extent of your injuries. For this reason, you should always keep good records of your medical expenses, anytime you miss from work and document any evidence of your accident with photos if possible.
Once you file a lawsuit, both parties begin what s referred to as pretrial discovery. During this period, which usually last six months to a year, the parties to the lawsuit begin compiling information and evidence to make their cases. This includes evaluating your injuries and obtaining medical records, examining police reports, obtaining oral depositions, gathering witness and investigating all other aspect of the claim. This pretrial period is also the time when you both parties exchange settlement offers and demands, in an attempt to settle the case before going to trial.
Actually a large number of cases in Oklahoma are settled, before going to trial. Most accident injury and slip-and-fall cases reach a settlement within one to two years. On the other hand, medical malpractice claims can take much longer to receive settlements due to the complexities involved in such cases.
If and when you do agree to a settlement you will be required to sign an agreement releasing the other party from any further liability for your injuries. However before signing any type of release, you should take the time to fully evaluate your injuries. Sometimes the actual extent of your injuries will not be observable until some time has passed. If you sign a release before knowing the full extent of your injuries, you will be barred from receiving any further compensation in the future.
Initial Consultation: Tulsa Personal Injury Attorneys
Again, exactly how long your case will take to reach a settlement or award depends on many different factors. Every personal injury case is different. It is uncommon however, for a case to take more than two years, unless it involves medical malpractice or extensive injuries. It may also take sometime for you and your doctors to know the full extent of your injuries, so be patient with getting your injuries evaluated and never sign any documents without first having them reviewed by an experienced personal injury attorney. In Oklahoma, call a Tulsa personal injury attorney right away. For a low-cost, confidential case evaluation contact us today at (918) 924-5528, toll free at (888) 447-7262 or send us a message using the form on the right side of this page.
