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

If you've been involved in a collision with an 18 wheeler it is essential to hire an injury lawyer who knows the law of trucking and can assist you in obtaining the best possible settlement. It could take between three months and a couple of years to settle a truck accident case.

There could be multiple parties responsible for your damages. Finding out who is at fault in these cases is a difficult. An experienced attorney can identify all responsible parties and assert claims against each of them.

Damages

Because of the much greater weight and size of a truck than the size of a car accidents involving 18-wheelers as well as other commercial trucks that are large can result in severe, sometimes life-threatening injuries. They also tend to cause more extensive destruction to vehicles and property. Due to this, the amount of damages awarded by juries and settlements in 18 wheeler accident lawyer wheeler accidents are often more than those that are granted in a typical motor vehicle accident.

Often, several parties may be responsible for the cause of an 18-wheeler crash. Truck drivers are typically the main cause of accidents because they are liable. However, the company they work for could be held accountable in the event that they fail to properly train their drivers or provide them with the proper equipment. Furthermore, the company that operates the truck can be held accountable for encouraging or enticing their drivers to go over the federal hour-of-service rules. Additionally, the manufacturer of the truck or its components can be held responsible for an auto defect that causes an accident.

It is vital to identify the parties accountable for the accident in order to negotiate an equitable and complete settlement. A knowledgeable attorney for 18-wheelers will investigate the incident to determine which party is accountable for your accident and be prepared to seek compensation from each party responsible. Your attorney can seek non-economic damages like discomfort and pain as well as financial losses.

Liability

Truck accident cases can be much more complex than car accident claims. The truck driver, trucking company, and even the manufacturer of the vehicle can all be held responsible for an accident. The trucking industry has incentives that could encourage trucks to be reckless and even skip sleeping to deliver their goods quickly.

These factors can increase the time required to settle a case involving an accident. Injury to the plaintiff may influence how long it takes to receive compensation. In the case of severe injuries, they often result in greater settlements in comparison to minor injuries which may result in a smaller settlement.

In addition, the trucking firm's insurance provider will attempt to minimize their responsibility by reducing the value the claim. This is why it's important to engage an experienced truck accident attorney as soon as possible. They will fight these intimidation tactics in order to get you the justice you deserve.

Additionally, additional documents such as the bill of lading or black box data can help determine who is responsible for the truck crash. These documents may prove that the truck driver was reckless and will help determine whether the trucking company had any involvement in the accident. The truck manufacturer could be accountable for the crash if they had a defective product.

Statute of limitations

The statute of limitation determines the time frame within which you can bring a lawsuit following an automobile accident. The time frame varies by state and is contingent on the type of accident you were involved in. In general there are four years to file an injury claim and two years to file a wrongful death lawsuit. An experienced lawyer can help you navigate through the process and determine whether you have any claims.

Your personal injury lawyer will examine the scene of the accident, talk to witnesses, and review medical records, driver logbooks, maintenance and employee records to determine who was at fault for the accident. This can take a considerable amount of time and it is important to begin this work as quickly as possible to preserve evidence.

The trucking company and their insurance provider will fight to stop paying you the amount you deserved. They may also attempt to reduce or exaggerate the severity of the extent of your injuries. If they succeed, this can delay the settlement of your claim. You could wait more than a whole year to receive your settlement.

Your lawyer will be able to make sure that the time limit does not expire before you're allowed to settle your claim or take it to trial. Certain circumstances may be able to override the statute of limitation for instance, the case of minor and suffer from a mental disability.

Timeline

Tens of thousands of semi truck accidents happen in the United States each year, which can result in fatal injuries or even death. These accidents are a major business for law firms that specialize in handling them. Settlements in 18-wheeler accident cases can reach millions and even billions of dollars.

Due to the nature of trucking accidents, a thorough investigation must be carried out to determine the responsibility and damages. This process can take a few months to be completed. In addition, if a case involves multiple parties, it may take longer to get them to agree on liability and damages.

It is vital that a skilled trucking accident lawyer is present at the beginning of the process to ensure that your interests are being protected. A lawyer can assist you determine the highest amount of compensation you deserve. They can also ensure that the insurance company isn't trying to pay your claim too fast and that they're offering a fair value.

Attorneys usually operate on a contingency fee basis. This means that they don't get paid unless they prevail in the case. They usually get around one third of the final settlement or the court's award. In the end, they have to wait for the remainder of the money to arrive before they are able to pay for their bills and expenses.