How Long After Deposition Is Your Case Settled?

The process of recovering compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering leads to a crucial step: the deposition. 

A deposition is a formal interview, putting the events leading up to your injury and its impact on your life under the legal microscope. 

The insurance company’s lawyers are masters of intimidation and will use all sorts of victim-blaming tactics during the deposition to avoid their financial responsibilities. Bringing an experienced personal injury lawyer to your deposition for guidance isn’t required, but makes sure the insurance lawyers can’t take advantage of you.

Still, once you get through the grueling deposition process, one question is sure to remain: how long after your deposition will they settle your case?

How Long After Deposition Will They Settle Your Case — Key Takeaways 

• There’s no fixed timeline for getting a settlement after a deposition. It depends on how strong your case is, how willing the other party’s insurance lawyers are to negotiate, and how much compensation you seek. Some cases may settle quickly, while others may go to trial.

• Depositions form a crucial part of the discovery process, where you respond to questions under oath, aiding in evidence gathering for both sides.

• Hiring a personal injury lawyer can be pivotal for the success of your personal injury case. They prepare you for depositions with coaching, negotiate settlements, and represent you in court if needed.

• If you or someone you know was injured in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you may be able to recover compensation for your medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and other losses. The amount of damages you can claim will depend on the severity of the injuries caused by the accident and its impact on your life.

Read on to learn more about how long after deposition comes settlement, how long after the discovery process comes settlement, and precisely what happens after a deposition in a car accident case. 

We’ll also explain how a free consultation with a seasoned personal injury lawyer like our team at Zinda Law Group can speed up the settlement process. 

How Long After Deposition Is Settlement Recovered? 

How long it takes to receive your settlement money after the deposition depends on multiple factors. These variables include the strength of your case, the amount of damages you seek, and how willing the other party is to negotiate.

A deposition is vital to the discovery process, where you and the other party trade information and evidence about the accident and your injuries. 

The deposition process helps both sides evaluate the case’s worth. It helps your lawyer decide whether settling out of court or going to trial is ideal. A deposition also affects the settlement amount, as it can reveal new facts or weaknesses in your claim. 

If a settlement is reached after the deposition, the next question is how long after discovery is settlement money recovered? The waiting period depends on the following factors:

Strength of the Evidence: 

If the evidence is clear and convincing, the insurance company may be more likely to offer a fair settlement to avoid going to trial. However, if the evidence is weak or easily disputed, the insurance companies will challenge the claim, delaying the settlement. Insurance companies will dispute all the evidence they can to stall and lower the payment. 

Amount of Damages: 

If the plaintiff seeks a large compensation, the insurance company will fight harder, delaying the case. A larger settlement makes the insurance companies reluctant to settle. They’ll try to reduce the liability or the damages. However, if the plaintiff accepts a lesser amount, the insurance lawyers are more inclined to settle and avoid the risk of a higher verdict at trial. An aggressive personal injury attorney makes sure you get what’s fair in a timely manner. 

Negotiation Process:

The settlement process involves a series of offers and counteroffers between the parties, which can be done directly or through mediation. The negotiation process can be smooth and quick or lengthy and complicated, depending on the communication and cooperation. Involving an effective personal injury attorney streamlines negotiations–they speak the insurance lawyer’s language.

A seasoned personal injury attorney can prepare you for the deposition. They’ll let you know what questions and tactics you can expect the insurance lawyers to use to intimidate you. Professional legal guidance will keep the other party’s attention focused on the facts rather than deflection and victim blaming, speeding up the settlement process.

What Happens After a Deposition in a Car Accident Case? 

• Settlement: 

• • A settlement is reached when both parties agree on fair compensation. Settlement can happen before, during, or after a deposition based on the results of the negotiations.

• Mediation: 

• • In a deadlock, the insurance attorneys may try to resolve the dispute through mediation with a neutral third party, either voluntarily or court-ordered. The neutral third party will find a resolution that’s acceptable to both sides.

• Trial: 

• • A trial may be necessary if the two sides can’t reach a settlement or mediation. In a trial, a judge or jury determines the outcome. While trials can be time-consuming and expensive, they might lead to a higher plaintiff award.

How Long Does it Take to Hear Back After a Deposition?

How long it takes to hear back after a deposition depends on the complexity of the case, the number of deponents, the availability of the lawyers, and the strategy on both sides. There’s no fixed rule or deadline for getting a response after a deposition. It differs from case to case.

One of the factors that can affect how long it takes to hear back after a deposition is the quality of your representation. 

A skilled and experienced personal injury lawyer can accelerate the discovery process. They can aid in preparation, give objections, and follow up with the other party’s lawyer. They can also advise you on the best course of action, whether to settle or go to trial.

At Zinda Law Group, our expert team works hard to recover the compensation you deserve for your personal injury case. We offer a free attorney consultation and work on a contingency fee basis, which means you don’t pay us anything unless we win your case.

Our team always prepares like we’re going to trial, which makes us more prepared for the deposition. Preparing for trial before the deposition avoids delays in the case and shows the insurance companies that we won’t back down or settle for less than you deserve. 

What Are the Steps to Obtaining Your Car Accident Settlement After a Deposition? 

Here’s what happens after a deposition in your car accident case:

• Review the Transcript: 

• • We’ll check your deposition transcript for errors or inconsistencies. Once the transcript is accurate, we’ll use it to prepare for mediation or trial.

• Negotiate: 

• • After the deposition, both parties may be more open to negotiating a settlement. We’ll hear their settlement offer based on the deposition, evidence, and damages and decide if it’s fair.

• Sign the Settlement Agreement: 

  • Once their offer is fair, we’ll advise you to sign a legal document outlining the terms. These terms include the payment amount and a statement releasing you from any fault.

• Receive Settlement Check: 

  • Once you’ve signed the settlement agreement, the insurance company sends your attorney your settlement check. We’ll make sure it’s the full amount we agreed to.

Final Thoughts on How Long It Takes to Settle After Deposition 

Unfortunately, there’s no final answer to how long it takes to settle a personal injury case after a deposition. The timeframe depends on the case’s complexity, the parties’ willingness to negotiate, and the lawyers’ and court’s cooperation and availability.

Waiting for a settlement can be frustrating and stressful, especially if you’re facing medical bills, lost wages, and other costs. 

Furthermore, insurance companies will use intimidation to discredit your story, delay the process, and lowball your settlement. Disputes over liability, damages, coverage, and appeals can all prolong your insurance settlement check. 

Plaintiffs who go through the discovery process alone often make mistakes that can hurt their chances of getting fair and timely compensation. Missing deadlines will delay your settlement, as will giving inconsistent statements or posting on social media.

Hiring an experienced personal injury attorney from a high-ranking firm with a track record for success, like Zinda Law Group, helps you navigate the legal system. We’ll guide you through the process and represent you in court while you recover. Let us help negotiate a favorable settlement.

You won’t have to worry about paying any legal fees upfront or out of pocket. At Zinda Law, we work on a contingency fee basis, which means we only get paid if we win your case. We’ll fight the insurance lawyers for the settlement you deserve and hold them accountable until you get it.