How long does a car accident lawsuit take in Houston?

How long does a car accident lawsuit take in Houston?

How long does it take to get a trial in Harris County?

Your attorney will file a lawsuit if your case cannot settle for a fair amount. A Houston personal injury lawsuit can take over a year to get to the first trial setting.  With the backlog of cases in Harris County, it isn’t easy to get a trial in the first trial setting.

Between one and two years after the lawsuit is filed is the most reasonable estimate of when you may get to a trial. After COVID, many courts are backed up and it might take more than one trial setting to get your day in court.

How long does the auto accident trial last?

Cases can take as little as 1 to 2 days or go on for weeks. A lot depends on the complexity of the case, the number of parties, and the damages in dispute.

Do I need a lawyer to file a car crash injury lawsuit?

If a lawsuit must be filed, getting an attorney is suggested.

Not every case requires a lawsuit. For example, 15 or 20 years ago, about 80% of all automobile accident claims were settled before filing a lawsuit.

But, in the meantime, Texas has enacted “tort reform,” which has encouraged automobile insurance companies and adjusters to take a more hardline approach to injury victims.

The net result of this law change is that, more often than not, a Houston car accident lawyer must file a lawsuit to get the insurance company’s attention focused rightly on your claim.

Of course, that is not to say that your case will go to a trial, as most cases settle before the trial starts. But the odds of a car accident lawsuit being filed are much higher today than before “tort reform.”

The reason is with tort reform, it is much easier for an insurance company to lowball and force a trial on both their insured and the innocent victim. Usually, the insurer uses employee counsel to reduce the costs of disputing every case.

The general rule is the more serious the injuries the more you need a skilled attorney to handle your case. With fatal accidents, getting a leading wrongful death lawyer is recommended.

How does a collision accident attorney work?

From the attorney’s perspective, the process begins with the case signing up. After the lawyer is hired for the injury claim, the initial investigation begins. An accident investigation is needed whether your claim is a car accident, truck crash, or motorcycle accident.

However, the negotiation process does not usually start until the car accident victims have been released from treatment or reached maximum medical improvement and the medical records are obtained.

The attorney can only present the claim to the insurance company for negotiation about a settlement. This process can take 3 to 6 months after doctors discharge the injured victim.

The main reason for the delay is the time it takes doctors and hospitals to respond with medical records and bills. That can take much longer than you would expect.

Working with the best car accident lawyer near you is an excellent first step in maximizing your damages. To speak with an experienced car accident lawyer in Houston, call (281) 587-1111.

After a lawsuit is filed

If a lawsuit is filed, your “day in court” can be as early as a year from the filing date in Harris County, Texas, but most often, it is closer to two years. The exact day is up to the court, and it is not unusual to have multiple settings before a trial is conducted on a case. In the meantime, your car accident attorney will prepare your case and obtain demonstrative evidence to tell your story.

Contact The Houston Car Accident Lawyers at Baumgartner Law Firm for Help

If you have been injured in an accident in Houston, TX, and need help, contact our Houston car accident lawyers at Baumgartner Law Firm by calling (281) 587-1111.

Baumgartner Law Firm Personal Injury Lawyers

6711 Cypress Creek Pkwy

Houston, TX 77069

Call (281) 587-1111