How Long Does It Take to File an 18 Wheeler Lawsuit?

If you've been involved in a crash with an 18 wheeler You need a personal injury attorney that understands trucking law and can assist you in obtaining the most favorable possible settlement. It can take between three months and a couple of years to settle a truck accident case.

Determining who is at fault in these types of accidents can be difficult and multiple parties could be responsible for your injuries. An experienced attorney will be able to identify the parties responsible and take legal action against them.

Damages

Accidents involving 18-wheelers or large commercial trucks can result in serious, even life-threatening injuries. This is due to the weight and size of a truck being much bigger than a standard passenger car. These accidents are also more likely to cause significant damage to the property and vehicles. Due to this, damages awarded by juries and settlements in 18 wheeler crashes are usually much higher than those given for a normal motor vehicle accident.

Sometimes, several parties are responsible for a crash involving an 18-wheeler. These can include the truck driver who's negligence is often the leading cause of these accidents. The trucking company they work for could be held accountable if the company is unable to provide the proper training or equipment to their drivers. Additionally, the trucking firm could be held accountable for encouraging or enticing their drivers to go over the federal hour-of-service rules. The truck's manufacturer or its components is also liable in the event that an auto defect leads to an accident.

It is vital to identify all parties responsible for the accident in order to secure an honest and complete settlement. A skilled 18-wheeler lawyer will investigate the case to determine which party is responsible for your accident and be ready to seek compensation from each responsible party. Your attorney can seek non-economic damages like discomfort and pain as well as financial losses.

Liability

The legal process for truck accidents is more complicated than claims for car accidents. Different parties could be held responsible for the accident, which includes the truck driver and the trucking company and the vehicle manufacturer. Additionally, the trucking industry has incentives that could cause trucks to drive recklessly and even skip sleep to make deliveries on time.

These factors can increase the time it takes to settle an accident claim. Personal injuries to the plaintiff can influence how long it takes to receive compensation. Severe injuries often lead to higher settlements as opposed to minor injuries that could result in a lower settlement.

The insurance provider of the trucking firm will try to minimize its liability by reducing the value of the claim. This is why it's essential to get a skilled truck accident attorney as soon as you can. They will fight these intimidation tactics to get you the justice you deserve.

Additional documents, like the black box's information and bill of lading, could assist in determining who was responsible for the truck accident. These documents could prove that the driver of the truck was driving recklessly. They can also be used to determine the extent of involvement of the trucking company in the incident. The truck manufacturer could be held accountable for the accident when they made a mistake with their product.

Statute of limitations

The statute of limitations determines the time limit in which you are able to make a claim after an auto accident. The time frame varies from state to state and is contingent on the type of accident you suffered. There is a four-year time frame to file an injury lawsuit and a two-year time frame to file a wrongful-death suit. An experienced lawyer will guide you through the process and determine whether you have an action.

Your personal injury lawyer will investigate the scene of the accident, question witnesses, and scrutinize medical documents, driver logbooks, maintenance and employee records to find out who was at fault for the accident. This may take a while, so it's important to begin this work as soon possible to preserve the evidence.

The trucking company and their insurance provider will fight to stop paying you the amount you deserved. They might also try to minimize your injuries or even exaggerate the severity of your injuries. If they succeed it could delay settlement of your claim. You could wait for more than a year for your settlement.

Your lawyer will make sure that the statute of limitations does not expire before you are capable of settling your claim or even go to trial. Certain circumstances may be able to override the statute of limitation, such as if you are an under-age person and suffer from mental disabilities.

Timeline

Tens of thousands semi truck accidents happen in the United States each year, causing debilitating injuries or death. Law firms that focus in these cases earn an enormous amount of money. The settlements made in 18 wheeler accident lawsuit wheeler accident cases have been in the millions of dollars, and often, billions of dollars.

A thorough investigation is required due to the severity and nature of trucking accidents. This process can take a few months to complete. Additionally, if the case involves multiple parties, it may take longer for them to come to an agreement on the liability and damages.

To safeguard your interests it is crucial to have an experienced trucking accident lawyer in your corner at the beginning of the process. An attorney can assist in determining the best amount of compensation you're entitled to. They can also make sure that the insurance company does not try to settle your claim as quickly as possible and is providing a fair amount.

Attorneys generally work on a contingency fee basis. They are not paid unless the case is won. They get about one third of the final settlement or court award. This means that they have to wait for the rest of the money to come in before they can pay their bills and accident expenses.