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

If you are involved in an accident involving an 18-wheeler vehicle, you'll need a personal attorney who is well-versed in trucking laws and can help you achieve the highest settlement possible. A truck accident case can take between three months and two years to settle.

Multiple parties may be responsible for the damages you suffer. Determining the fault in these cases is a difficult. A skilled attorney will be able identify the parties responsible and seek to pursue claims against them.

Damages

Accidents involving 18 wheeler accidents-wheelers or other large commercial trucks could result in serious, 18 Wheeler Accident life-threatening injuries. This is due to the weight and size of a commercial truck being larger than a car for a passenger. These accidents are also more likely to cause extensive damage to vehicles and property. As such, damages awarded in 18 wheeler accident settlements and jury awards are usually much higher than the damages of an ordinary motor vehicle crash.

Sometimes, several parties can be accountable for an 18-wheeler crash. Truck drivers are often the main cause of accidents because they are liable. However, the company they work for can be held accountable when they fail to adequately train their drivers or provide them with appropriate equipment. Additionally, the trucking firm can be held liable when they encourage or reward their drivers to exceed the federal hour-of-service rules. The manufacturer of the truck or its components can be held responsible in the event of an auto defect which causes an accident.

It is vital to identify all parties responsible for the accident in order to obtain a fair and comprehensive settlement. An experienced 18-wheeler lawyer will investigate the case to determine who is responsible for your accident and will be prepared to seek compensation from each party responsible. In addition to seeking financial losses, your attorney can also pursue damages not monetary, such as suffering and pain.

Liability

Truck accident cases are more complicated than standard car accident claims. The truck driver, trucking company and vehicle manufacturer could all be held responsible for an accident. The trucking industry also has incentives that could encourage trucks to be reckless and even skip sleeping to make quick deliveries.

These factors can affect the time required to settle a truck accident claim. The injury of the plaintiff can affect how long it will take to receive compensation. The most severe injuries usually result in larger settlement amounts as opposed to minor injuries that could result in a lower settlement.

The insurance company of the trucking company may also attempt to reduce its liability by reducing the value of the claim. This is why it's important to engage an experienced truck accident lawyer as quickly as possible. They will fight back against these tactics of intimidation to make sure that you get the settlement you deserve.

Additional documents such as the bill of delivery and black box data can help identify who is responsible for the truck crash. These documents may prove that the driver of the truck was reckless in his driving. They can also be used to determine whether there was any involvement by the trucking company in the incident. If the truck manufacturer was operating a vehicle that was defective, they may be responsible for the accident.

Statute of limitations

The statute of limitations defines the period of time that you can make a claim after an accident in the car. The length of time can differ by state and is determined by the type of accident you've been involved in. In general, you have four years to file an injury claim for personal injury, and two years to file a wrongful-death suit. A knowledgeable attorney will assist you through the process and determine if you have a claim.

A personal injury lawyer will review the scene of the accident and interview witnesses, as well as review medical records. They will also look over driver logbooks, employee records and maintenance records in order to determine who was at fault. This can take a substantial amount of time, and it is important to start this work as quickly as you can to ensure the integrity of evidence.

The trucking company and their insurance provider will fight to stop paying you the compensation you deserve. They may also attempt to minimize or exaggerate the severity of your injuries. If they are successful this can delay the settlement of your claim, and you could be left waiting for a settlement for more than a year after your crash.

Your lawyer can ensure that the statute of limitation will not run out until you have settled your dispute or taken it to court. Certain circumstances may extend the statute of limitation for instance, being a minor and have a mental impairment.

Timeline

In the United States, there are hundreds of thousands of semi-truck accidents every year that result in fatal injuries and even death. These incidents are a huge business for the law firms that specialize in handling these. Settlements in 18 wheeler accident cases have been in the millions of dollars and often, billions.

A thorough investigation is essential due to the nature and severity of trucking accidents. This process could take several months to be completed. If there are multiple parties involved, it might take longer to reach an agreement on liability and damages.

It is vital that a skilled trucking accident attorney is in place at the beginning of the process to ensure that your best interests are protected. A lawyer can help you in determining the best amount of compensation you deserve. They can also make sure that the insurance company does not attempt to settle your claim quickly and is offering a fair amount.

Attorneys usually operate on a contingent fee basis. This means that they aren't paid until they win the case. They typically receive about 1/3 of the final settlement or the court's award. They must therefore wait until the rest of their money is received before they can pay their expenses and bills.