If you or your loved one has survived sexual abuse, it is certain that you have experienced a long list of emotions. From fear and anxiety to shock and shame, your feelings are normal reactions to trauma, and the idea of going to court for months or even years can be inconceivable.
Our compassionate legal team understands how important it is to our clients to speed up their personal injury cases to minimize emotional distress, avoid public trial, and secure prompt compensation for therapy and expenses. So, stick with us to learn how long a typical sexual abuse lawsuit takes to resolve.
Sexual abuse lawsuits in Arizona commonly take between six months to several years to resolve. However, most civil cases settle within roughly 12 to 24 months. There are a number of factors that affect this timeline, including case complexity. Claims involving institutions, such as schools, churches, or corporations, often take longer to resolve due to more extensive investigation, depositions, and legal defenses.
Compiling medical records, police reports, and witness statements takes time and may also affect how quickly a case moves. However, if a claim settles through mediation, it will resolve much faster than other legal processes.
There are several factors that can delay a sexual abuse lawsuit. While some cases with clear evidence settle within months, others involving institutions, multiple parties, or complex litigation can last for years. Going to trial may also slow the process, as survivors may face court docket backlogs that can delay proceedings, while defendants, especially large institutions, may use delays to increase the pressure on survivors to settle with low-ball offers that a good legal advocate will recommend against.
A typical sexual assault lawsuit progresses through a number of stages, starting with investigation. This process can take several weeks to months, before proceeding to the discovery and pre-trial stage. This next step may last between six months to over a year, allowing time for attorneys to exchange evidence and motions.
The lawsuit then moves to resolution. A trail will often span several days to weeks, while a resolution through settlement may be reached more quickly. The final stage is the compensation payout, which typically takes as little as one week to six weeks after a settlement or judgment is reached.
Find a Phillips Law Group office near you to discuss your sexual abuse lawsuit timeline. We are located across the state of Arizona to better serve our personal injury clients where you live and work. Our team of skilled and experienced attorneys have made a difference in our communities for more than 30 years.
Connect with us now to set up your free, no-obligation consultation with a team member. We understand that faster resolution, often via settlement, provides closure, holds abusers accountable, and reduces the risk of long litigation.
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