How Long Does It Take to Settle a Truck Accident?

Because no two truck accident lawsuits are the same, and many factors come into play during the settlement process, the time it takes to settle a case varies. We work hard to resolve your lawsuit with a settlement award. We also understand the risks of a speedy settlement and carefully weigh the pros and cons of each settlement offer you receive.

Our legal team will determine the processes involved in how long it takes to settle your truck accident case. We can also familiarize you with the personal injury and insurance laws that help establish the potential time frame of your case.

Determining Fault and Liability in Truck Accidents Can Be Complex

Various factors unique to truck accidents make them difficult matters to settle quickly. First, multiple parties can be liable for an accident. These include not only the driver but:

• The driver’s employer
• The company that owns the truck
• The company responsible for servicing the truck, doing repairs and maintenance
• The workers hired to load the truck’s cargo
• The company that made or designed the truck
• The manufacturers of any parts on the truck that failed to work
• The municipality responsible for the roads where the accident happened
• Other motorists involved in the accident, if any

Getting Evidence From a Truck Company Can Take Time

Investigating the accident to determine liability can also take time because of the nature of the evidence involved. In addition to the evidence you may have, including the police report, photos of the accident scene, and witness statements, there’s evidence the truck company has in its possession that could help us prove your case. We will have to send a spoliation letter to the truck company and other parties involved to preserve this evidence because it is relevant to your case. This evidence includes items such as:

• Truck maintenance records
• A black box containing crash data
• Footage from the truck driver’s dashcam video
• The driver’s work and training records
• The driver’s logbooks and schedule

Securing this evidence and having the time to review it can add time to the settlement process. However, it is critical that we have time to examine all critical evidence to build the strongest case we can for you.

Assess the Value of Your Injuries

After proving the at-fault party’s liability for causing your accident, our team assigns a value to your injuries. Injuries from truck accidents can be severe-to-life-threatening to fatal. The weight of large trucks can be 20 to 30 times more than passenger vehicles, per the Insurance Institute for Highways Safety (IIHS). This puts riders in cars and other smaller vehicles at risk of injury or death if they get into an accident with a truck. Such injuries include:

• Head, face, and neck wounds
• Internal bleeding
• Internal organ damage
• Broken or crushed bones
• Spinal cord and/or back injuries
• Knee and leg injuries
• Soft tissue injuries (bruises, sprains, swelling)

These injuries usually bring high medical bills and extensive recovery time that takes people away from their jobs for long periods. If you are in this situation, the damages you can recover include:

• Medical bills
• Lost wages
• Property damage
• Property loss
• In-home support
• Funeral expenses, if applicable

These damages cover the cost of treatments and income loss from the time the accident occurs until your recovery is complete. We will collect evidence on your behalf to prove your financial expenses and losses.

Calculate Your Injury-Related Damages

In addition to medical care, you may also incur additional damages that entitle you to non-economic recovery. These expenses typically include:

• Pain and suffering
• Physical impairment
• Physical disfigurement
• Mental and emotional distress
• Loss of enjoyment of life

Unlike economic damages, these expenses can be difficult to assign a value to on your own. Our case assessment team will help you determine their value and ensure they are included in your lawsuit.

Know how Much Time You Have to File Your Lawsuit

Our team understands the time limitations your lawsuit faces. We work hard to define and comply with the statute of limitations that is relevant to your case. In addition to ensuring your lawsuit meets the state’s filing deadline, getting our team involved in your case early also means we have ample time to:

• Investigate the accident
• Review and collect evidence
• Obtain your crash report and other essential documents
• Locate and interview witnesses

In addition to investigating your accident, we also search the area surrounding the accident for any available smartphone footage witnesses and bystanders may have captured. We also work to locate residential and commercial surveillance footage that may be available.

Your Role in the Settlement Process

The time it takes to settle your lawsuit depends, in part, on you. As the American Bar Association (ABA) explains, the final decision to accept or reject each offer is always yours to make. To help you make an informed decision, our team advises you on each settlement offer you receive and on the overall strength of your potential lawsuit.

We also advise you to weigh your final decision carefully because you cannot request additional compensation even for valid expenses once a settlement agreement has been signed. Because of this finality, we make sure you understand the feasibility of the offers you receive and the potential outcome of taking your case to court.

The Benefits of Letting Our Team Negotiate Your Settlement

When our team represents you, our mission is to build a strong relationship, make roads and highways safer for everyone, and seek financial recovery for you. We fight hard to identify the at-fault party and hold them responsible for their carelessness. Every member of our team is focused on the best interest of our clients. We:

• Treat you like friends and family members
• Humanize the state’s complex legal system
• Give your case the time and care it needs

You are never in the fight for compensation alone when our team is on your side. We also make sure you are aware of every step in resolving your lawsuit with regular updates. Per the ABA, your case is more likely to be resolved with a settlement than a trial, and we fight hard to resolve your case without the time and frustration involved in going to court.

Clients Appreciate the Personal Touch We Provide

Our team is committed to treating every injured client we represent like family and friends. We offer warm, supportive, responsive communication and combine big firm experience with a small firm atmosphere. Previous clients say:

• “The law firm truly believes in treating you like family and fighting for what you are entitled to.” – Ingrid Hines-Nesmith
• “Paul is very personable and reaches out to each and every one of his clients to keep them informed on their case! I give them a five-star rating!!” – Lauren Marvin

When you are ready to seek financial compensation, our team is ready to fight by your side.

Call Our Team Member for a Free Consultation

Are you ready to find out how long it takes to settle your truck accident case and how hard our team fights for you? Contact a member of our Hammack Law Firm case review team by calling (864) 326-3333(864) 326-3333 today.