Someone on a motorcycle might suffer life-altering injuries if they crash with a larger vehicle. Even when motorcycle riders carefully follow the law and wear the best protective gear available, they are at risk of injury if they collide with a four-wheeled vehicle. Motorcycles don’t offer much protection from traumatic injury.
Sometimes, the driver who caused the motorcycle crash has enough insurance coverage to reimburse the injured motorcyclist. Other times, their insurance may not be adequate. Poor insurance coverage, a lapsed policy or catastrophic injuries may all lead to a motorcycle crash lawsuit in Iowa.
How long can a plaintiff expect the process to take?
Lawsuits require patience
There is no certainty about the timeline for a personal injury lawsuit in Iowa. There are certain timing rules that people need to comply with if they decide to pursue compensation. The statute of limitations for personal injury lawsuits in Iowa only allows someone two years to take action. Therefore, someone needs to move relatively quickly after the incident that leaves them hurt or they may lose the right to seek compensation.
Once they file the lawsuit, it might take anywhere from a few months to a few years to resolve the matter. Many personal injury lawsuits eventually settle. People reach agreements that allow them to resolve the matter without taking it to trial. That might only take a few months.
Other times, litigation in court is actually necessary to obtain compensation. The volume of cases requiring a judge’s attention and the complexity of the case can influence how long it takes to resolve a motorcycle injury lawsuit that actually goes to trial. People sometimes wait a year or more for a hearing, and the process could take even longer if there are appeals.
Those seeking compensation through a motorcycle accident lawsuit may need to make alternate arrangements to cover their cost-of-living expenses in the interim, especially if they cannot work. They may also need to communicate with medical creditors about their legal situation to prevent aggressive collection activity.
Between gathering evidence to present in court and handling negotiations with the defendant, there can be a lot involved in a motorcycle crash lawsuit. Many people struggling with serious injuries after a motorcycle collision need support to manage the process. Seeking legal guidance is a good way to benefit from personalized assistance.