How long will my medical malpractice lawsuit take?
If you’re looking to file a medical malpractice lawsuit, then you should be prepared to play the long game.
Filing a malpractice lawsuit is not easy. Often, you’ll need to hire a lawyer, file a bunch of paperwork, and endure hours in court.
For many people, it’s not worth the effort. But for others, it’s necessary – harm was caused to them, and they require adequate compensation.
So, how long does it actually take? This article will discuss everything you need to know.
There is no set time period for a medical malpractice lawsuit
Firstly, there is no set period for a medical malpractice lawsuit.
It depends entirely on the individual case, including the type of malpractice or injury, current evidence to support the claim, and other legal reasons.
It depends if the defendant accepts malpractice
Following on from this, if the defendant denies negligence, then the malpractice lawsuit will go on for much longer.
On the other hand, if the defendant agrees to the negligence, then you can expect a much quicker process.
If they accept, then you could be looking at a few months, as opposed to several months, or even years, in some cases.
You could be waiting on further medical examinations & recovery
To prove medical malpractice took place, you may need to wait on further medical examinations.
And in some cases, you may need to wait for recovery following surgery. Often, patients file malpractice without waiting an adequate recovery period – so you may need to hold out for a little bit longer.
You should factor in at least two years for most medical malpractice lawsuits
So, how long do most medical malpractice lawsuits take? We’d typically suggest factoring in at least two years for most lawsuits.
But as we already mentioned, these can end much sooner if the defendant accepts the malpractice or negligent claims.
For more advice, we’d recommend speaking to a professional.
And on the other hand, if you are a doctor or work in the healthcare industry, then the need for malpractice insurance is essential – the chances that you’ll face a claim are on the rise, even if you cause no intentional harm or negligence.