When you are injured in a car accident and someone else was at fault, filing a car accident lawsuit can be the best way to obtain compensation for any damages you’ve suffered. Although a lawsuit may take longer than simply contacting your insurance, it can help you receive the settlement you deserve. Often, when you file a claim with insurance, you won’t be compensated for all of your damages.
The length of a car accident lawsuit in Detroit can vary and a lot will depend on the severity of your accident, how much money you’re demanding from the negligent party, and how the negligent party’s insurance company responds to the settlement offer. At Christensen Law, our attorneys are experienced in handling car accident lawsuits and we can negotiate on your behalf.
Patience will be key if you hope to obtain a proper settlement, but a Detroit car accident lawyer from our team will support you every step of the way in the legal process so that you’re aware of what’s happening and can feel involved.
Initial Settlement Offer
Your attorney will need to perform an investigation on your accident in order to gather evidence and determine what exactly happened in your case. Once your case can be compiled with clear documents that prove negligence against the defendant, a settlement can be calculated based on the damages you’ve suffered. Your lawyer will then submit an initial settlement offer to the defendant’s insurance.
Negotiations
The defendant’s insurance company will have a limited period of time to either deny your initial settlement or enter into negotiations. Even if the defendant’s insurance company or defense lawyer tries to negotiate for a lower settlement, you have the right to deny the offer and go to trial. If both parties can’t come to an agreement, the case will go to trial in front of a judge and possibly a jury.
Trial
Your car accident lawyer in Detroit will prepare for trial using the evidence gathered from the initial settlement offer. Trial cases are not uncommon in car accident lawsuits because it’s expected that the defendant won’t be willing to pay you the maximum settlement you deserve. In the courtroom, your attorney will negotiate on your behalf in hopes of obtaining the best possible outcome for your case.
Reach Out to a Detroit Car Accident Attorney
Although you may feel like the legal process is long and drawn out, the ultimate goal is to maximize your settlement. If you rush the process, you can end up getting less money than you deserve. At Christensen Law, we value justice over everything and we know that good things take time. Although some car accident lawsuits will settle quickly, complex cases may take a few months.
Each case is unique in complexity and length, but we’re determined to treat each one with the utmost care and attention. If you’d like to discuss your case with a Detroit car accident lawyer from our team and get a better sense of how long the process may take, you can call or fill out the contact form below to schedule a free consultation.
