What Is the Settlement Process for Truck Accidents?
Semi-truck collisions are among the most dangerous on the road. They’re also among the most difficult to recover from, both physically and financially.
When fully loaded, semi-trucks may weigh 20 to 30 times more than the typical passenger car. Because of its vast size, it has less mobility, requires a longer distance to come to a full stop, and requires more room to turn. Semi-trucks have a high center of gravity, making them more susceptible to rollovers. They also sit higher off the ground, allowing a smaller car to slip under the truck and get stuck in the event of an accident.
All of these elements combine to form a deadly concoction. Smaller passenger car passengers are in danger of severe and even fatal injuries in truck accidents.
If you or a loved one was injured or killed in a truck accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you might be entitled to compensation for your injuries and losses.
At our legal company, one of the most often asked inquiries is, “How long before my semi-truck accident case settles?”
As in other situations, the answer is that it depends on your specific circumstances. Continue reading to find out why.
We can answer any concerns you may have about a semi-truck accident that has injured you or a loved one. Please contact an expert truck accident injury lawyer as soon as possible. A personal injury lawyer specializing in truck accident claims may make the difference in obtaining the greatest possible payment under the law.
Clients often inquire about the length of time it will take for a semi-truck accident case to “settle,” but we find that they don’t always comprehend what that term implies. You could “settle” for a pittance fairly fast, but that’s not what you or your attorney want.
A settlement is an agreement between a semi-truck victim and the party with legal responsibility for the accident. In a typical semi-truck accident settlement, the party responsible for the accident pays money to the wounded victim in exchange for the victim agreeing to release the party from future legal culpability. When the parties reach an agreement, the legal disagreement between them is resolved and, in most situations, cannot be reopened.
The money provided to the wounded semi-truck accident victim is often – but not always – from an insurance company. The major reason individuals acquire liability insurance is to prevent themselves from being held liable if their poor judgments or negligent acts cause harm to others.
The vast majority of semi-truck accident cases we handle—indeed, the vast majority of all cases we handle as personal injury attorneys—end in a monetary settlement. The guilty party and their insurance company will do a “cost-benefit” analysis and determine that paying money immediately to halt a lawsuit is preferable to dragging out the struggle or going to court.
Sometimes parties are unable to reach an agreement. In such circumstances, the semi-truck accident lawsuit proceeds to a trial in front of a judge and jury. So, whenever someone asks how long it will take for their semi-truck case to be resolved, we must warn them that the answer maybe never be.
Instead of settling, our wounded clients may need to go to court to collect the compensation they deserve. A good lawyer will always be ready for this scenario.
But don’t worry: the majority of semi-truck cases are resolved. The following elements determine the time it takes.
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Multiple parties might slow things down if too many cooks in the kitchen.
The wind blew so strong along I-65 in one example that it lifted a semi-truck into the air, causing it to smash with another car. Afterward, a third truck rear-ended a fourth truck that had slowed down to escape the first collision. One of the trucks was forced into a fifth truck by the force of the collision. Three drivers were injured, and the route was shut down for many hours.
That may seem like many trucks, but multiple car pile-ups caused by semi-truck accidents happen all the time. In the wake of an 18-wheeler, several passenger cars might be destroyed. Furthermore, a semi-truck may be owned by various people and corporations, including the driver, the car owner, the owner of the goods in the trailer, the trucking company, insurance firms, and so on.
As a result, a typical semi-truck accident includes several victims and various persons and companies that may be held legally responsible for the victim’s injuries. With each new party, there are more issues. Coordinating the lawyers’ schedules for these many parties takes a significant amount of time.
The length of time it takes for your semi-truck lawsuit to be resolved is determined by the number of parties involved.
Accidents involving trucks Make a shambles. It Takes Time to Sort It Out.
Saying that someone else caused your accident, no matter how evident it may seem to you, will not be enough to persuade a court or a hesitant insurance company.
It’s up to you to prove it.
To receive compensation from someone in a personal injury case, you must demonstrate that that person or entity made poor judgments or engaged in unsafe behavior that caused the accident and, as a result, injured you.
It’s a lot simpler to say than it is to accomplish. As an illustration, consider the chain reaction truck accident we mentioned before. Assume your accident occurred when the fifth car to be struck crashed into your car, smashing it and injuring you severely. Your physicians won’t tell you how long it will take you to heal or what constitutes a “complete recovery” in your situation.
A lawyer representing you often confronts a double obstacle before settlement negotiations in your semi-truck accident lawsuit can even begin: They must first disentangle the accident to determine which of the trucks, truck drivers, trucking firms, and other parties involved in the collision may be legally responsible for your injuries.
Second, they must document and assess your medical condition to estimate the amount of money you’ll need to achieve a “complete recovery” and get your life back on track as precisely as possible.
It doesn’t end there, however. Your lawyer must also struggle with, compete with, or collaborate with attorneys for other accident victims who are attempting to do the same thing, as well as lawyers for all other parties who are attempting to avoid the legal obligation to you and the other victims.
You can see how this project may take months and months to complete. Bottom line: Semi-truck accidents are notorious for causing a slew of factual and legal complexities and confusion right from the start, with even more stumbling blocks uncovered as the layers are peeled away. Lawyers need time to research and prepare you for success: a settlement that pays you the full, fair amount you deserve.
Time is a valuable commodity.
You may hear your lawyer discuss case value and the value of your case. We are not referring to the worth of life itself when we use such expressions. You can’t place a price on anything like that.
The value of a case is calculated by aggregating the financial costs – such as medical bills, car replacement or repair, and missed income – and then adding a monetary amount indicating the pain, suffering, and other injury caused by a semi-truck collision.
As a general rule, the more money an injured semi-truck accident victim is entitled to, the longer it will take to resolve the case.
Semi-truck accidents may result in many deaths and property damage, as well as a lot of money. Legally liable parties may attempt to declare bankruptcy to protect their assets. A bankruptcy filing may stop personal injury claims, giving you more time to strike a settlement.
You deserve to be represented by a skilled truck accident attorney. When you’ve been knocked down, the appropriate attorney understands how to aggressively pursue responsible parties and stand up for you. Don’t fall victim to the legal ploys used by those who have wronged you to postpone or avoid paying you what you are owed.
Patience Pays! Avoid Temptation!
The at-fault party’s insurance company will attempt to take advantage of you, even with obvious responsibility and substantial injuries. They’ll make a hasty settlement offer before you’re even released from the hospital. Many accident victims are tempted to accept this low-ball offer. They may be agitated and bewildered, and all they want to do is “get it done.”
Don’t be taken in by this ruse.
Early settlement offers seldom take into consideration the entire magnitude of your suffering. That’s why insurance companies create them: to induce you to take the money before you know how badly you’ve been harmed or before you can seek legal counsel. You’re out of luck if you agree to a low-ball early settlement only to be hit with unanticipated expenditures and issues later.
Hire an expert semi-truck accident lawyer who can safeguard your legal rights and hold responsible parties accountable instead of acting on impulse. Every day, personal injury attorneys interact with insurance companies. They are aware of the tricks and techniques to avoid and the best times to attack.
Don’t be taken advantage of — seek a fair settlement that pays you what you’re owed.
The Way Things Usually Go
Let’s look at how a typical settlement process works now that you know the elements that influence how long it takes to settle a semi-truck accident case.
As soon as an injured semi-truck accident victim joins us, a personal injury law company like ours starts to construct a case. We operate on a contingency fee basis, so our clients don’t have to pay anything in advance to hire us.
Instead, we get compensated based on the money we can collect for our clients. We are not compensated if we cannot assist you in recovering compensation. It’s as simple as that.
We usually start by looking at the facts. We examine images of the accident site as well as the accident report. We identify all parties who may be legally liable to our client and establish which parties have the financial means (insurance or assets) to pay full damages. We also gather information to establish each party’s obligation to our client and the amount of compensation our client is entitled to.
Then, on our client’s behalf, we contact the person or parties with a legal obligation (usually via their lawyers or insurance representatives) and demand payment. We may also file a lawsuit on behalf of our client, identifying the same people as defendants and requesting monetary damages from them.
Lawyers for the legally responsible parties will reply and negotiate a settlement. In these conversations, an impartial mediator may be used.
Meanwhile, if we have previously filed a lawsuit on behalf of our client, the matter will continue.
Finally, when it comes to resolving a matter, the attorneys for both sides often find common ground. On the other hand, our client always has the last say on whether or not to accept a settlement.
While we cannot guarantee how long this will take, we can guarantee that we will get you through it as fast and effectively as possible, to achieve the best possible conclusion for you.
The legal procedure after a truck accident is never easy, but we do our best to make it as simple as possible for you.
If you were hurt in a semi-truck accident, an expert truck accident injury lawyer can provide you with a free case examination, answer your concerns, and guide you through the next steps. Don’t put off taking action until it’s too late. Reach out now.
