The answer to this question, too, depends on a variety of factors that differ from case-to-case. As lawyers for Philadelphians who suffered spinal cord injuries, we have resolved some cases in a matter of months, whereas others have taken years.
Factors that affect the timeline for a Philadelphia spinal cord injury case may include:
- The amount of money at stake. As a general rule, the more money involved in a spinal cord injury case (or any case, really), the more time it may take to resolve. However, this is not always the case. For example, if a party concedes legal liability for causing the injury and the damages involved far exceed that party’s insurance coverage, then the insurance company may cut a check quickly (figuring there is no point in fighting).
- The number of parties involved. A lawsuit with multiple parties can feel that way: lots of complications, lots of difficulty coordinating, and longer timeframes across-the-board. Again, this is not necessarily a hard-and-fast rule, but as a practical matter lawyers almost always have an easier time resolving a two-party Philadelphia spinal cord injury case as compared to, say, a ten-party case.
- The willingness of parties to negotiate. Most Philadelphia spinal cord injury cases reach a resolution through some sort of negotiated settlement. That is just the nature of these types of matters. The more willingness the parties have to come to the negotiating table to hammer out a fair and reasonable payment by the legally liable parties to the injured party, the sooner a case will typically end, usually. But not always. Some parties have every intention of working out a solution but need time to prepare, evaluate, and reach an acceptable middle ground.
- The need for a trial. Sometimes, of course, even the best efforts at negotiating a fair settlement come up empty. In those cases, Philadelphia lawyers for spinal cord injury victims, after consulting with their clients, may decide that taking a case to trial in Pennsylvania courts constitutes the best course of action for achieving just results and adequate compensation. Going all the way to trial can extend the timeframe for a case by months or more. Oftentimes, however, settlement negotiations and trial preparation happen in parallel. That is why many cases settle on the steps of the courthouse.
If you live or work in Philadelphia and recently suffered a spinal cord injury, contact the Levin Firm’s experienced, skilled spinal cord injury lawyers today for a free evaluation of your legal rights to compensation.