How much time will this take?

That depends. After the initial meeting with your attorney, where the attorney will collect all the facts about the case, you won’t have to commit too much time while your attorney attempts to negotiate an appropriate settlement. If the case does not settle, but goes to trial, it will take up more of your time in order to prepare for the trial. The choice, however, is yours. In most cases a settlement offer is made and your attorney can negotiate to try and increase that offer. The decision to accept the settlement or go to trial is entirely yours.