In many cases, it is necessary to file a lawsuit to gather important evidence, prove liability, determine your injuries, and maximize your recovery. The statute of limitations to file your bicycle injury lawsuit is two years, but many rules and exceptions apply, especially if you must file a lawsuit against a public entity, which drastically cuts short the time to file a Government Claim form down to six (6) months, among many other requirements that can easily end your case. This is why you always need to seek immediate legal assistance after an accident which causes injury.
In most counties and jurisdictions in California, once you file a lawsuit, your trial date will be set 12 to 18 months in the future. The trial date usually marks the longest time your case could take, even though settlement is an option at any time. During those 12 to 18 months, your case will go through a discovery phase, a deposition phase, an expert witness and analysis phase, settlement negotiations, and if necessary, trial preparation and trial itself.