The Journey To Justice: Your Personal Injury Case Timeline

Last updated on February 18, 2025

Life can instantly change when you are injured due to someone else’s negligence. However, the law advocates that no one deserves the physical, emotional and financial burden of someone else’s mistake.

That is why Merk & Gile, Injury Attorneys, is here to guide you on the path to justice. Serving injury victims throughout the Cincinnati area, Ohio and Kentucky, our attorney team is known for its authentic approach to personal injury law. While we bring fresh perspectives, we mean business when it comes to fighting for your rights and securing fair compensation.

Personal Injury Case Process

Navigating a personal injury claim can feel overwhelming, but we are committed to making the process straightforward. Here are the key steps involved:

• Free consultation: We will discuss your case at no cost and answer your questions.
• Investigation: We gather evidence and build your claim.
• Medical treatment and documentation: We can help ensure proper care and detailed injury records.
• Demand letter: After reaching maximum medical improvement (MMI), we send a detailed demand to the insurer.
• Negotiations: Our attorneys fight for fair compensation and counter-low offers.
• Filing a lawsuit: If needed, we are ready to take the case to court.
• Discovery: Both sides share information to strengthen our case.
• Mediation: A third party helps with settlement talks.
• Trial: If necessary, we will present your case in court.

We will be with you every step of the way, explaining the process clearly and helping ensure your best interests are always represented.

How Long Does A Personal Injury Case Take?

Timelines vary, but there are some general expectations. Simple cases take six to 12 months. Average cases take 12-18 months, while complex cases can take two years or more. Several factors can affect how long your case takes to resolve, including:

Severity of injuries and recovery time: Your initial focus must be on your medical needs and your recovery. Additionally, medical evidence is one of the most important parts of a personal injury case. You need to work with your doctors to determine the full extent of your injuries, how long it will take you to recover and what type of medical treatment you are going to need moving forward. You may deserve compensation for both short-term and long-term medical costs. Medical evidence demonstrates your costs and shows what specific injuries you suffered in the accident.

Reaching MMI before settlement: MMI stands for maximum medical improvement. Essentially, this is the amount of recovery that your doctors think is realistic. Some injuries will completely heal with time, so you need compensation for the medical services that are required to reach that recovery. But others – such as spinal cord injuries (SCIs) or traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) – may cause symptoms that last for the rest of your life. This is when you may need to look into long-term costs, as well.

Disputes over liability: In many personal injury cases, the party liable is the one who exhibited negligence. This could be a negligent property owner who allowed a dangerous condition to exist, for example, or a negligent driver who caused a car accident. Effectively determining fault and liability can take time in a complex case, especially when the at-fault party argues that they are not liable for the damages.

Case complexity and the number of parties involved: Cases involving multiple parties or with a high level of complexity tend to take longer simply because there are more details to sort through. For instance, injuries caused in a truck accident can be complicated because the driver may be liable, the trucking company may be responsible, that company may have an insurance provider that is involved and there could even be questions of third-party claims – such as if there was a vehicle malfunction that places blame on a parts manufacturer or a maintenance company.

We work efficiently to secure the best possible outcome for you.

Reach Out To Us

Contact Merk & Gile, Injury Attorneys, today by calling 513-838-2511 for a free consultation. Our lawyers proudly serve Kentucky and Ohio from offices in Newport, Cincinnati and Lexington.