Since most plaintiffs enter the legal process with little or no familiarity with the proceedings, they underestimate the time and effort required of them for the case to be successful. Because of things like commercials for attorneys or fictionalized portrayals of lawsuits in popular culture, many plaintiffs have the idea that lawsuits are an easy way for wronged parties to seek compensation. But one of the most difficult parts of fighting a lawsuit comes as a huge surprise—
The lawsuit will likely last more than a year.
It’s difficult to estimate the average length of a lawsuit due to the range of types. For example, medical malpractice lawsuits tend to last longer than personal injury cases. Although it is true that some cases reach a conclusion after only a few weeks, most will last longer than a year and are likely to last around two years. Many plaintiffs who underestimate the time that this can take enter court proceedings enthusiastically and then get frustrated both emotionally and financially when they aren’t getting their settlement as soon as they thought.
Other overlooked time-sensitive issues include:
If the defendant decides to appeal the ruling, the legal process will take even longer, especially since this is a common setting for stalling tactics. In fact, there have been cases of plaintiffs actually suing the court for taking too long to reach a ruling. Appeals are especially common if the defendant is a group or company with more resources than the average individual, especially since appealing can sometimes be cheaper than a fair settlement.
Plaintiffs of longer lawsuits are more likely to accumulate a dangerous amount of debt. When the plaintiff can’t possibly know the duration of the lawsuit, he or she can run into problems with repaying other forms of funding such as traditional loans or fast-but-expensive fixes like credit cards. If a settlement isn’t in sight, the plaintiff typically struggles with repaying these lenders in addition to the ongoing expenses that they needed funding for in the first place. This can create a cycle of debt that, when the case finally concludes, takes away a large chunk of the settlement. Why go through years of an exhausting case just to hand the settlement over to creditors?
Plaintiffs pursuing lawsuits of any duration often find that lawsuit loans are their best lawsuit funding option. One of the reasons why lawsuit loans are unique and convenient for plaintiffs is that repayment is expected once a settlement is reached. If the plaintiff is struggling because of how long the case is taking, then the plaintiff can utilize this fast and easy funding to help manage their finances until the lawsuit concludes. This can give them the financial freedom while awaiting their settlement. Financial stability prevents any stall tactics from pressuring the plaintiff into a smaller settlement, and the plaintiff’s home life will benefit as well when he or she isn’t constantly worrying about financing life’s necessities.
About the Author: Steven Medvin is the Executive Director of SMP Advance Funding, LLC, which provides lawsuit funding to individuals who need a lawsuit loan for pending lawsuits. For more information please visit www.smpadvance.com.
