How Lengthy is a Slip and Fall Settlement in Los Angeles?

Slip and fall incidents are common causes of accident-related injury and mortality in the United States. Each year millions of emergency visits result from such accidents with variable extent and severity of injuries. Even a minor fall incident can leave a victim with significant disability and property damage that can be impossible to compensate with the help of insurance. Most victims of such incidents, therefore, seek legal action against the negligent party to obtain financial compensation for their damages.

Depending on the specifics of each incident, the time it can take for a slip claim to resolve can vary greatly. Although some cases proceed to a jury trial, most claims get resolved through out-of-court settlements. If you are waiting for your settlement in such a case, you might wonder what factors could impact the timeline and amount for your case. Keep reading for a brief overview of a typical slip lawsuit timeline.

Factors Affecting a Settlement in a Slip and Fall Lawsuit

Multiple factors can impact the timeline of your slip and fall settlement case, some of which include:

Extent and Severity of Injury

The extent and severity of your physical injury can impact the duration of your slip or fall lawsuit. More severe injuries usually entail a long treatment course, resulting in a prolonged case and delayed settlement. The course of recovery for such injuries correlates with the duration of resolution of such cases. If it takes a while for your injuries to heal, then that means you are missing out on work or other important duties. Time is money and to be compensated for that lost time is important.

The Complexity of Legal Claim

In general, complex slip and fall claims tend to get resolved later due to several factors. The most important of which is the number of parties involved in the incident. It’s easier to get settlements done when there is one party involved. If you sue multiple parties for your slip injuries, it might take longer than it would for a single defendant. When it comes to these types of settlements, having all the details together is important. Having to get the story together is a time-consuming process which is why those types of claims have longer wait times.

Course of Negotiation

The resolution of slip-and-fall lawsuits depends on the willingness of the parties to come to a mutual agreement regarding the outcome of the case. The course of negotiation dictates the overall duration of a slip-and-fall case and determines whether a case would proceed to a court trial. It’s always best to get as much information on the case as possible. Once there is an understanding of how severe the slip and fall accident was, your case can build up from there. A lot of these details can be discussed with a legal professional.

Court Schedule

The court at which your case is scheduled is an important determinant for the duration of the resolution of your slip and fall claim. If the court schedule is busy, your dates might be deferred, and your case prolonged beyond the expected time. It is a tedious process to get your court times aligned in a way that works with your schedule. This factor is the hardest to control as the court must deal with other cases along with yours. Some cases must take priority so being able to work around that will work in your favor. 

How Long Will Your Settlement Take?

Providing an exact answer to how long a settlement would take is impossible since each slip and fall accident is unique and governed by multiple variables, some of which have been described above. In general, most slip-and-fall lawsuits get settled within months to years, depending on the complexity of the case and the level of expertise of your legal team. While simple cases might get resolved in under six months, more complex cases could take years till a favorable outcome is reached.

Conclusion

Most slip-and-fall lawsuits get resolved outside the court when the parties involved negotiate to reach a mutually agreed outcome. The resolution of any slip-and-fall lawsuit in Los Angeles depends on several factors and can take months to years. Hiring an expert personal injury attorney for representation is a good way to ensure a quick settlement. It’s always important to do the right amount of research on which law firm will benefit you. Working with a competent professional will relieve the stress of the unknown.

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