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How long can it take for a personal injury case to go to trial?
A case stemming from a 2009 car crash in Edison has finally concluded with a jury verdict for the plaintiff. Evelyn Coneo was injured in a motor vehicle accident over five years ago. Coneo was a passenger in a car carrying her mother and daughter. As the driver of the vehicle carrying Coneo attempted to make a right turn and yielded to oncoming traffic, it was struck by a tractor-trailer who apparently did not see it. The car was trapped under the truck and swung out on the turn. As a result of the accident Coneo suffered a torn rotator cuff and needed multiple surgeries, including one to implant a plate and four screws in her neck.
Coneo received a $1.1 million award for her ongoing pain and suffering due to the injuries she suffered in the accident. Though the plaintiff was successful in her legal claims, it took a number of years for her to be awarded the relief she deserved.
Time is always a factor that needs to be considered when deciding whether to file a personal injury case. Insurance companies rarely offer a settlement that reflects the true value of a case. But these offers should be seriously considered along with factors such as how long it may take for the case to be resolved through a trial, the risk that a verdict may be in the defendant’s favor and the energy and expense a trial will require. In this case, it is unclear whether it was in the client’s best interest to pursue a jury trial as information regarding settlement offers has not been released.
If you live in the Essex County, NJ area and have been involved in an auto accident you may want to learn about your legal rights and possible options for seeking compensation. Contact the auto accident attorneys at Nagel Rice by calling us at (973)618-0400 today.