Answering Three Routine Questions About Pursuing A Lawsuit

Suffering injuries and damages due to the negligent actions of another person or enterprise can be a stressful experience. While the courts will allow you to pursue compensation for the losses that you suffered, the process of navigating a personal injury lawsuit through the court system can be exceedingly complicated. Not surprisingly, some people may not be sure of what they should expect from this process, but learning the answers to the following few questions will give you a better understanding about how this process will unfold.

How Expensive Will It Be To Hire A Personal Injury Attorney?

While the legal system allows individuals to represent themselves, this is a practice that is generally discouraged because of the complexity involved with legal cases. Unfortunately, some individuals automatically assume that they will not be able to afford the services of an experienced personal injury lawyer. This belief can stem from the idea that it will be necessary to pay the attorney up front, but many personal injury attorneys work on a contingency basis. This billing structure means that you will only need to pay your attorney's fees if the case is successful.

How Long Will It Take To Be Awarded Compensation?

Following these incidents, it can be common for individuals to be severely needing money. Unfortunately, the willingness of the defense to make a fair offer for your case will be one of the major deciding factors in how quickly you are paid. If the defense refuses to make a reasonable offer for your injuries and damages, then it will be necessary to go through a trial. While you may want to avoid a time-consuming trial, it can be the only option for forcing a resolution to your case when negotiations are unproductive.

How Will You Be Paid Your Settlement?

When your case is successful and results in a lump sum payment, the defendant will issue a payment to your attorney so that any fees and court expenses can be subtracted. After this has been done, your attorney will prepare a check for you, and after signing a release that acknowledges the itemized expenses from representing the case, the check will be released to you. If you are awarded a structured settlement, the process will be very similar, but you will receive payments on a regular basis as opposed to one lump sum. In instances where the other party fails to make these payments, your attorney can petition the court to compel payment, which can be done through wage garnishments, liens, and asset seizure.