This is a difficult question to answer because every case is different. We have had some cases settle very quickly once the client hired us, and we reached out to opposing counsel to let them know we were in charge of negotiating on the client’s behalf. On the other hand, we have had cases last for years because we took the case to trial, and then the losing side appealed the verdict. One of the longest cases we have been involved with was one that was appealed all the way to the United States Supreme Court.
In order to allow potential clients to make an informed decision about how to proceed with their case, we try to provide them with a ballpark estimate of how much time cases similar to theirs have taken. This can sometimes even be accomplished at our free initial case evaluation meeting. As a general rule, it is always quicker to settle a case than go to trial.
Here is how long some typical cases have lasted:
- One of our clients was a 33-year-old New York City Department of Health inspector who slipped and fell while performing a restaurant inspection because the floor was wet. She suffered a fractured arm and a torn meniscus that required arthroscopic surgery. Her claim was settled in less than two years for $600,000.
- It also took us less than two years to settle a medical malpractice case (which, on average, tend to take longer) for a client whose doctor failed to diagnose him with nasopharyngeal cancer. Our client received $1.25 Million.
These are just two examples from the hundreds of cases that we have successfully handled at Jaroslawicz & Jaros.
Unfortunately, most cases are not settled before they reach the stage where both sides can tell the court that they are ready for trial. With the trial being imminent and pressure from the judge to settle, the insurance company adjusters and attorneys will finally have no choice but to get serious about your case and do a complete evaluation to try and settle. Getting to the “trial ready" stage can take two to three years in the typical case. This depends on what jurisdiction or county the case is pending in, who the judge is, who the other lawyers are and how busy the courts are with other cases.
At Jaroslawicz & Jaros, when we accept a personal injury case, we do everything we can to move it along as quickly as possible. We never adjourn our cases because we are too busy to process them. We only accept cases that we think are meritorious and then we do our best to obtain the highest settlement or verdict in the shortest amount of time for our clients.
If you or a loved one was injured and needs legal assistance, call Jaroslawicz & Jaros at 212.227.2780 or submit an online questionnaire. The initial consultation is free of charge, and if we agree to handle your case, we will work on a contingency fee basis, which means we get paid for our services only if there is a monetary recovery. In many cases, a lawsuit must be filed before an applicable expiration date, known as a statute of limitations. Please call to ensure that you do not waive your right to compensation. Or you can email us at ajaros@lawjaros.com.
