Personal Injury Lawsuit Timeline in Tennessee

Have you been hurt in an accident in Nashville? Was someone else’s reckless or negligence to blame? If so, you could be owed significant compensation for what happened to you, and that money might be crucial to you and your family. When medical bills and other expenses are piling up and you are unable to work, it is likely time to contact an injury attorney to discuss your rights and legal options.

If you’ve been injured, it is understandable to want to quickly recover compensation from the person responsible. Unfortunately, many victims find themselves under increased pressure to try and resolve these cases as quickly as possible, and often accept settlement offers that are far less than what they deserve.

To secure the full and fair compensation that you are owed, it may take several months and sometimes years, depending on the specific circumstances of your case. Every legal case is different, so some cases may be resolved much quicker than others. Ultimately, it is usually worth it to hire an experienced attorney to guide you through the injury claims process.

If you suffered catastrophic injuries or your loved one was killed in an accident caused by another party’s negligence, turn to a legal team that knows how to get results for its clients. The Law Offices of Luvell L. Glanton has secured significant compensation through settlements and verdicts for its clients in the greater Nashville area.

Our firm is dedicated to fighting to get you all of the compensation you are entitled to. Call (615) 244-4511 or contact us online to set up a free consultation.

Typical Timelines for Personal Injury Lawsuits

As soon as an accident occurs, three events will typically be set into motion:

Recovery — When a person is injured in any kind of accident, they will immediately begin the process of recovering from their injuries. The amount of time that it takes to make a complete recovery can vary depending on several factors. Some people may recover in a matter of months, while others may require several years, and certain victims may never fully recover from their injuries.

Investigation — You will want to have an attorney conduct an independent investigation of your accident as soon as possible. The insurance company that is handling your case will very likely assign a claims adjuster to your case, and they will conduct their own investigation. Investigations can require some interviews of witnesses and other tasks, but most investigations do not last longer than three months.

Settlement Negotiations — An insurance company will typically contact a victim soon after their accident and quickly offer a proposed settlement. The insurer is well aware of the desperate circumstances most victims face and usually try to coax victims into accepting settlements by suggesting that they will be able to keep more money for themselves by not hiring a lawyer. However, this claim is untrue, and most of these settlements are far too low. You should refuse to make any recorded statement to an insurance company about your accident until you have legal representation. A lawyer can negotiate for a fair and full settlement, and settlement negotiations typically continue throughout the entire litigation process through trial.

Around the three-month mark, numerous other actions may be set in motion. When settlement negotiations have not produced an acceptable offer, the victim’s attorney may begin preparation of a lawsuit.

After it has been prepared, the lawsuit will be filed, and the defendant will be served. The defendant typically needs to be served within 30 to 60 days of the lawsuit being filed.

The defendant will then have 30 days to file a response. Many defendants ask for extensions, which can usually allow for another 15 days.

Usually, over the course of the next three months, both sides will be involved in the following processes:

Questions — Both parties will send out questions to the other sides within 60 days of the lawsuit being filed. Each side usually has 35 days to respond.

Independent Medical Examinations (IMEs) — The defense will often require a plaintiff to submit to an IME performed by one of its chosen physicians. A victim should always make sure an attorney is present for one of these exams.

Depositions — Both parties are afforded the opportunity to interview key people involved in the case. Victims, defendants, and witnesses may all be deposed, and the statements made may be used at trial.

Shortly after the three-month mark and up until just after the six-month mark, both sides will usually hire expert witnesses. The experts will typically conduct their own investigation in preparation for any possible trial appearances.

Usually, it is just after six months have passed that two more processes involving the expert witnesses occur:

Disclosure — Both sides disclose the names of their expert witnesses and the subjects of their testimony.

Depositions — Both sides conduct depositions of the expert witnesses.

If settlement negotiations are still unsuccessful at this point in the process, the court may order the two sides to enter into mediation. Mediation typically occurs nine to 18 months into the lawsuit process, and it can last one day or several days.

If mediation is unsuccessful, then the case will move towards trial. The length of a trial can vary depending on the complexity of the case, as a non-jury trial may be heard and decided in a single day, while other cases could last several months and then lead to a jury taking many days to decide.

When a victim succeeds in a lawsuit, disbursement of their award usually occurs within 30 days of the verdict.  Keep in mind that a decision may be appealed, possibly leading to many additional court appearances.

Contact a Personal Injury Attorney Today

Did you sustain serious injuries or was your loved one killed in an accident caused by another party’s negligence in Tennessee? Do not think that you have to handle the personal injury lawsuit process on your own. The Law Offices of Luvell L. Glanton will help you recover every last dollar that you need and deserve.

Luvell L. Glanton has nearly three decades of legal experience and has been named a Nationally Ranked Top 10 Attorney by the National Academy of Personal Injury Attorneys, a Premier 100 Trial Attorney by the American Academy of Trial Attorneys, and a Top 100 Trial Lawyer by the National Trial Lawyers. He can assess all of your legal options as soon as you call (615) 244-4511 or contact us online to set up a free consultation.