Every birth injury is different. As a result, it’s hard to accurately predict how long a case will take to conclude. Many cases last several years (often 4-6), but others can settle much sooner. The first step in any case is to contact a New York birth injury attorney. Your attorney will evaluate your claim and decide whether they can take on your case. They’ll also engage a medical expert to review your claim. If the lawyer and expert both agree that you have a viable claim, you can proceed with officially filing the lawsuit. Settlement negotiations will also generally start. The lawsuit will then go through a period of motions, hearings, and discovery. If the case doesn’t settle during this time, the case will go to trial. How long this process takes will depend on many factors, such as: -The complexity of the case -The strength of your evidence -How busy the court is -Cooperation of all parties involved A good lawyer will keep you updated on all developments in your case. See Chapter 3: Pursuing a Birth Injury Lawsuit in New York for more information about the lawsuit process.