Pursuing a product liability case is a journey rather than a transaction. The road has several distinct stages, each with its own timeline, milestones, and emotional rhythm. This page sets honest expectations about how long the process takes, what happens at each stage, what kinds of decisions you will be asked to make, and how the day-to-day rhythm of your life changes when you have an active lawsuit. The more you know going in, the easier the journey is.

Realistic Case Timeline

The vast majority of defective fire pit cases resolve between twelve and thirty-six months from the date you engage counsel. Less complex cases with clear liability and modest damages can close in under a year. Catastrophic cases involving wrongful death, multiple defendants, or contested liability can take three years or longer. The timeline below is typical for a moderately complex case.

• Months 0–2: Intake, evidence preservation, initial investigation
• Months 2–4: Pre-suit demand and negotiation (twenty to thirty percent of cases settle here)
• Months 4–5: Filing the complaint and service on defendants
• Months 5–7: Defendants’ initial responses and early procedural motions
• Months 7–15: Discovery, depositions, expert disclosures
• Months 15–20: Mediation and settlement negotiation
• Months 20–24+: Trial preparation and trial (only ~5% of cases reach this stage)
• Months 24–30: Resolution, disbursement, and case closing

The Quiet Period

One thing that surprises most first-time plaintiffs is the long quiet stretches that punctuate active phases. Weeks can pass during discovery where nothing visible happens on your case — the defendants are reviewing documents, our experts are preparing reports, the court is processing motions. This is normal. We send periodic updates even when there is nothing new to report, but you should not interpret silence as inactivity. Behind the scenes work is constant.

Your Deposition: What Actually Happens

The single most stressful day for most plaintiffs is their deposition. Here is what actually happens.

A deposition is a structured question-and-answer session conducted in your attorney’s conference room (not a courtroom). The defense attorney asks questions, you answer truthfully, and a court reporter creates a verbatim transcript. Your attorney sits next to you the entire time. The deposition typically lasts three to six hours with breaks. There is no judge, no jury, no audience. You are asked about the incident, your injuries, your medical treatment, and your damages.

We prepare you thoroughly in advance. You spend at least one full preparation session with us going through the likely questions, the appropriate way to answer (truthfully, concisely, and only to the question asked), and the few procedural rules to remember. The defense will not be asking you anything you have not already discussed with our team. After the deposition, the case usually moves toward settlement quickly because both sides now have a clearer picture of how you will testify at trial.

Settlement Discussions and Decisions

Settlement discussions typically begin informally during discovery and become formal at mediation. You will be presented with offers from the defense and asked to make decisions about whether to accept, counter, or reject. We give you our honest assessment of each offer relative to expected trial value, but the ultimate decision is yours.

• First offer: typically well below fair value — we always counter
• Mediation offers: often in a reasonable range — we advise based on case specifics
• Final pre-trial offers: usually competitive — we walk you through the tradeoffs in detail
• Trial verdict: highest potential recovery but with the most risk and longest delay

Your Day-to-Day Life During the Case

Most clients are surprised by how little the lawsuit interferes with daily life once intake is complete. Our team handles communications with defendants, document gathering, expert coordination, and procedural filings. Your main responsibilities are continuing your medical care (which is good for both your health and your case), forwarding any new bills or correspondence about the incident, and being available for periodic updates and decision points. There are typically three or four substantial decision points across the entire case — everything else is routine.

Some clients find the case psychologically taxing because it requires periodically revisiting traumatic events. Mental health treatment is recoverable as part of damages, so do not avoid getting support out of cost concerns. We can suggest providers familiar with personal injury litigation if helpful.

Communication Cadence

You will hear from us at scheduled checkpoints regardless of whether anything visible has happened. Expect: a status email every four to six weeks during quiet phases, prompt communication about any substantive development, advance notice of any decision you need to make, and immediate availability for time-sensitive issues. You can always reach your attorney through the firm’s main line and we return calls within one business day except in extraordinary circumstances.

Closing the Case

When the case resolves through settlement or verdict, the final phase is disbursement. We pay any outstanding medical liens and insurance subrogation claims first, calculate and deduct our contingency fee and advanced case costs, and disburse the remainder to you. We provide a detailed settlement statement showing every dollar accounted for, and you sign final release documents. From settlement agreement to funds in your bank account is typically four to eight weeks depending on how quickly liens are negotiated.

Why Choose Langley Still & Foss

• Predictable, honest communication throughout the case
• Thorough deposition preparation and ongoing client support
• Settlement strategy that balances recovery against time-to-resolution
• No fee unless we recover compensation for you

Ready to Begin Your Case

Knowing what to expect is the first step in feeling confident about moving forward. If you are ready to begin, the free intake conversation is the first formal step. There is no obligation and the consultation is fully confidential.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my case take longer if I have ongoing medical treatment?

Sometimes, yes. Cases that involve ongoing or expected future medical treatment benefit from waiting until the medical picture has stabilized before settling, because we can then accurately project future medical costs. The tradeoff is a longer case in exchange for a more accurate (and usually higher) recovery. We discuss this tradeoff with you and decide together when the case is ripe for resolution.

What happens if I change my mind during the case?

You have the right to terminate the engagement at any time. We do not impose penalties for client-initiated termination, though we are entitled to recover advanced case costs and a reasonable fee for work performed up to that point. Most engagement letters spell out the specifics. If you change your mind because you are unhappy with our service, we want to know first so we can address the underlying issue.

Can my family attend the deposition or other proceedings with me?

For depositions, no — only attorneys for the parties, the witness, and the court reporter attend. Trial is open to the public so family members can attend. Mediation is usually closed to non-parties, but exceptions are negotiable. We let you know in advance who can be present at each event.

How often should I expect to hear from my attorney during quiet phases?

We aim for at least one substantive update every four to six weeks even during quiet phases, plus immediate communication of any significant development. If you go more than six weeks without hearing from us during active litigation, that is unusual and you should reach out. Most clients prefer the regular cadence over feeling left in the dark.

Maintaining Realistic Expectations Throughout

Civil litigation rarely moves on the timeline anyone would prefer. Court schedules, discovery disputes, expert witness availability, and the procedural moves of opposing counsel all influence how long a case takes to resolve. We work to provide realistic timeline expectations from the beginning of representation, and we update those expectations as the case develops. Clients who understand the timeline tend to make better decisions about settlement offers and trial readiness when those decision points arise.