Steps In the Personal Injury Lawsuit Process

Our Lexington personal injury lawyers can guide you every step of the way

If you’ve been hurt in a personal injury accident, you may not be sure what to do next. You needed medical treatment for your injuries and have the medical expenses to prove it. You may have missed time from work and suffered other damages. If your accident was caused by the negligence of another, it’s important to know your legal rights.

The South Carolina personal injury lawyers at Johnson + Johnson Attorneys at Law understand the impact an injury from an accident can have on your life. Born and raised in Lexington, attorneys and brothers Kevin and Steven Johnson are proud to fight for clients to help them recover the compensation they deserve.

What is a personal injury lawsuit?

A personal injury lawsuit is a legal action taken by someone who has suffered harm or injury due to another party's negligence or intentional actions. These lawsuits are filed in order to hold the responsible party accountable for the damages caused, such as medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. A lawyer can help obtain compensation for the injured person by presenting their case in court or negotiating a settlement with the at-fault party or their insurance company. These cases can arise from various situations, including motor vehicle accidents, slip-and-falls, dog bites, premises liability, and product liability.

When can I file a lawsuit?

A personal injury lawsuit is a case filed in civil court by someone who suffered an injury against the party or parties responsible for their injury. In South Carolina, the statute of limitations (legal deadline) for filing a lawsuit is generally three years from the date of your accident. However, different deadlines can apply in certain circumstances, and only an attorney can tell you which legal time limits apply to your case. If you miss a deadline, you will lose the opportunity to recover financial compensation for your losses, so it’s always a good idea to talk to an attorney as soon as possible.

Even if the three-year deadline seems like a long time, it’s always in your interest to start the process early. It can take months to build a strong case. Also, the more time that goes by, the more likely it is that witnesses will forget important details about your accident. And over time, valuable evidence can be lost or destroyed.

How long does a personal injury lawsuit take?

There’s no single timeline. Some cases are settled within months, while others can take a year or more. It depends on the circumstances of the accident, the extent of your injuries, the timeline of your medical treatment, and how difficult the insurance company decides to be.

If you’re worried about how long a personal injury lawsuit may take, talk to an experienced lawyer. The attorneys at Johnson + Johnson Attorneys at Law can provide you with a free case evaluation where you can learn information about your case like how long it could take and what the value of your claim might be. We can’t guarantee a timeline, but we can give you our best estimate based on our experience, and we will be with you every step of the way.

How to file a personal injury lawsuit

In general, you will follow this process:

Talk to an experienced personal injury lawyer. While you aren't required to have a lawyer in a personal injury matter, it’s always in your interest to get legal representation. An attorney can review the details of your accident and explain your legal options. An attorney can also determine the total damages you have suffered as a result of what happened. These may include current and future medical expenses for your injuries, lost wages if you couldn’t work and other damages such as pain and suffering.

An attorney will investigate. A strong case is built on facts. Your legal team will gather evidence of your accident, such as any video footage from nearby cameras. Any accident reports and other documentation will be carefully reviewed. Witnesses will be identified and interviewed. If needed, experts will be consulted. Your lawyer will also carefully review your medical records to understand your injuries and the impact they have had on your life.

A lawyer can demand compensation. This usually won’t happen until you have reached maximum medical improvement (MMI). This means your condition has stabilized and you have recovered from your injuries as much as possible, in your doctor’s medical opinion. Your attorney may reach out to the insurance company for the negligent party to see if a settlement can be worked out.

A personal injury lawsuit is filed. If settlement talks break down or if it seems like both sides are too far apart, your lawyer can file a complaint with the appropriate court and pay the filing fee. The defendant will be served with a copy of the complaint and a summons that provides instructions for responding. A trial date will be set.

The discovery phase begins. During this phase, each party investigates the other’s claims. Documents are shared and depositions are taken. Depending on how complex the case is, this phase can take several months.

There may be mediation or negotiation. At the end of the discovery phase, lawyers for both sides have a better idea of what a trial might look like. They may negotiate to try to resolve the matter through a settlement. In some cases, they may go through mediation, in which a neutral third party tries to help both sides agree on a resolution.

If no settlement is reached, there is a trial. First, a jury will need to be selected. Lawyers for both sides will make opening statements to the jury. Your lawyer will present evidence during the trial. Then the other attorney will present the defendant’s case. Both sides will then give closing arguments. The judge will provide the jury with instructions, and the jury will then begin deliberations and eventually reach a verdict. However, your lawyer can still negotiate a settlement with the insurance company while the trial is ongoing, at any point prior to the verdict.

It bears repeating that filing a lawsuit does not mean you will go to trial. A settlement may be reached at any point in the process; indeed, most personal injury claims are resolved via settlement at some point in this process. Filing a lawsuit just keeps your options open – and keeps up the pressure on the insurance company to make a fair offer.

What is the average personal injury settlement amount?

Determining an average personal injury settlement amount is challenging as each case is unique. The payouts in personal injury lawsuits vary significantly due to factors such as the severity of injuries, medical expenses, lost wages, emotional distress, and the specific circumstances of each incident. For this reason, there's no definitive “average” figure. The compensation can range from a few thousand dollars to millions, depending on the case's complexity and the damages incurred. It’s essential to consult with an experienced personal injury attorney to assess the potential value of your case accurately.

Experienced legal representation makes a difference

If you’ve been injured in an accident, you may not be sure what to do next. The process can seem confusing and all you have are questions. Our lawyers can guide you through the legal process every step of the way. We can keep you updated on the progress of your lawsuit and advise you of your options.

How much will this cost you? We work on a contingency fee basis. That means you owe us nothing unless we recover financial compensation. Learn more about how we can help. Contact us to schedule a free case evaluation.