How Long Does a Slip and Fall Accident Lawsuit Take in Florida?

Slip and fall accidents are often viewed in a not-so-serious way; however, slip and fall accidents aren’t always as minor as they sound. Such accidents can result in serious bodily injury, mental trauma, and very expensive hospital bills. 

These types of accidents are also not as simple as they sound. A lot of work goes into discovery, interviewing, and inspections. There are lots of variables between different slip and fall accidents, and this makes them tricky to handle. There’s no set timeframe for these types of lawsuits. They could take a few months, or they could take years to reach settlement. 

How Long to Reach Settlement?

Due to the variables that go into each slip and fall accident, there’s no exact timeframe for these particular lawsuits. Some cases are open and closed, some take extensive investigation, and some can last for years on end. 

It’s important to begin your slip and fall lawsuit as soon as it happens though. The statute of limitations on such incidents are only two-years, so you can’t wait for chronic conditions to appear due to injury to begin litigation. It’s best to take action right away instead of waiting for injuries to appear. You may be past the two-year statute of limitations long before signs of injury appear. 

Also, Check – Can I Sue If I Fell Down a Staircase?

Although there’s no specific timeframe for how long a slip and fall accident lawsuit can take in Florida, there are some general steps to take, and they won’t look too different from case to case. All slip and fall accident victims who pursue litigation should expect the process to look something like this: 

• The injury first occurs.

• You’ll spend some time receiving medical treatment.

• You should meet a reputable personal injury attorney – preferably one with slip and fall accident experience.

• You and your attorney will discuss your case, your possible restitution, and your chance of winning the case.

• If you decide to pursue legal action, your attorney will file a formal civil complaint, signifying the beginning of a lawsuit.

• The defendant will have a set amount of time to file a response, and business usually use the full period of allotted time to respond. 

• Once the defendant responds, you and your attorney will send interrogatories, gather medical records, and other valuable evidence.

• The court will decide on a mandatory settlement conference.

• This is where the defendant will decide to settle out of court or go to trial. This could be the end of your lawsuit, or it could continue beyond this point.

• If the defendant doesn’t decide to settle out of court, you will more on to deposition, answering questions under oath and explaining your side of the story.

• The defendant will have their own day in court too, telling their side of the story and try to convince the judge that they aren’t at fault.

• The judge will eventually schedule a final hearing where he will make final judgement. 

As you can see, the process is long and vigorous, and each of these steps could take a varying amount of time. If you’re lucky, you could go through this entire process in just three or four months. On the other hand, complicated cases with extended periods of litigation could take years to settle.