How Long After a Deposition Will I Get a Settlement for My Car Accident Case?

Perenich, Caulfield, Avril & Noyes Personal Injury Lawyers | Car Accident

How Long After a Deposition Will I Get a Settlement for My Car Accident Case?

The aftermath of a car accident in Clearwater, FL, can be both stressful and painful. You’re healing from your injuries, but you’re also likely engaged in a contentious settlement with the other driver and their insurance company. 

As part of the litigation process, you might be asked to give a deposition. This might seem like a critical stage of the case, leading you to wonder how long it will take to get your settlement. The truth is that while depositions can be influential toward a case’s outcome, they do not normally decide a case outright. 

Clearwater Car Accident Timelines Vary

Each situation is different, so there is no hard-and-fast number as to how long a Florida car accident takes to settle. Cases can take longer if the facts are unclear, even after deposition, or if the other driver was a commercial truck driver. Many claims also settle out of court, even if the attorneys representing each party go through witness depositions. 

Although Florida drivers are required to have Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance to cover their medical bills and wages from time missed at work, the victim may still need to file a lawsuit to collect further damages from the at-fault driver. You can file a suit if the property damage and medical bills exceed your PIP coverage limit or if you’ve sustained a “serious” injury as defined by state statute.

Your lawyer can also advise you, if your case permits, to step outside of Florida’s no-fault car accident laws and file a suit for damages. You’ll be eligible to ask for the economic damages covered under PIP insurance, plus non-economic damages like pain and suffering and emotional trauma.  

Can a Deposition Lead to a Car Accident Settlement in Florida?

A deposition is one of the primary evidence-gathering processes of a car accident litigatory process. It is part of the pretrial discovery process, which takes place after the initial lawsuit is filed. Depositions are formal interviews conducted by each party’s lawyers and administered under the same oath they would take if they were testifying in court.

As depositions continue, the facts of the case emerge and become clear. At that point, the at-fault driver’s attorney may realize that their client is rather clearly at fault and understand that going to trial may end up with a worse outcome than offering a settlement of the case.

Likely Scenarios After a Clearwater Car Accident Deposition

A few things could happen during and after the deposition process, each of which will have a different effect on the length of time it takes to settle your claim:

  • The other driver realizes that they will probably lose in court and asks their attorney to settle
  • The other driver believes they have a strong case but isn’t willing to go through the stress of a trial, thus asking to negotiate for a lower settlement than you initially offered
  • Both sides realize that they have a shot at winning, and the case goes to trial

If a car accident lawsuit goes to trial, it could take much longer to get an award, and that’s if the jury rules in your favor. It could take months to set a trial date, and the preparation process can easily fill those long months.

Skilled Clearwater Car Accident Lawyers Prepare a Strong Case on Your Behalf

Your Clearwater, FL, car accident lawyer may be just as eager to settle your case out of court as you are. Since many of them work on a contingency basis, they don’t get paid until – and unless – they win or settle your case. Unfortunately, there may be no way to rush your process; the depositions are just one factor that may affect the timeline of your case. 

Contact the Pinellas County Car Accident Law Firm Of Perenich, Caulfield, Avril & Noyes Personal Injury Lawyers for Help

For more information, please contact the Clearwater and St. Petersburg car accident law firm of Perenich, Caulfield, Avril & Noyes Personal Injury Lawyers at the nearest location to schedule a free consultation today.

We serve in Pinellas County and its surrounding areas:

Perenich, Caulfield, Avril & Noyes Personal Injury Lawyers – Clearwater
1875 N Belcher Rd. STE 201,
Clearwater, FL 33765,
United States
(727) 796-8282

Perenich, Caulfield, Avril & Noyes Personal Injury Lawyers – St. Petersburg
2560 1st Ave S,
St. Petersburg, FL 33712,
United States
(727) 349-1728