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

If you're involved in an accident with an 18-wheeler vehicle, you'll need a personal attorney who is well-versed in trucking laws and can assist you to get the most favorable settlement. A truck accident case can take between three months and two years to settle.

Many parties could be accountable for your losses. Determining the fault in these accidents is complicated. An experienced lawyer will be able to identify all responsible parties and seek to pursue claims against them.

Damages

Due to the higher weight and size of a truck than the size of a car the accidents that involve 18-wheelers and other commercial trucks can cause severe, and even life-threatening injuries. These accidents are also more likely to cause extensive damage to property and vehicles. The damages awarded in 18 wheeler accident settlements and jury awards are usually substantially higher than those awarded in the typical motor vehicle crash.

Many times, multiple parties are accountable for an 18-wheeler accident. Truck drivers are often the main driver of accidents since they are negligent. The trucking company that they work for could be held liable if it does not provide proper training or equipment for their drivers. Additionally, the trucking firm can be held accountable if they encourage or incentivize their employees to violate the federal regulations on hours of service. The manufacturer of the truck or its parts could be held accountable for an auto defect that leads to an accident.

It is essential to identify all parties who are responsible for the accident to negotiate an honest and complete settlement. A skilled 18 wheeler accident lawsuit-wheeler lawyer will review the case to determine which party is responsible for your accident and be ready to pursue compensation from each responsible party. Your lawyer may seek non-economic damages like pain and discomfort as well as financial losses.

Liability

Truck accident cases are much more complicated than standard car accident claims. The truck driver, the trucking company and vehicle manufacturer could all be held accountable for the consequences of an accident. Additionally, the trucking industry offers incentives that can lead trucks to be reckless and even skip sleep to deliver deliveries on time.

These factors can affect the time it takes to settle a lawsuit. Injury to the plaintiff may influence how long it takes to get compensation. Injuries that are severe can result in an amount of settlement that is higher than minor injuries.

Furthermore, the trucking company's insurance provider will attempt to reduce their liability by decreasing the value of the claim. Therefore, it is important to hire a truck accident lawyer as soon as you can. They will be able to fight these tactics to ensure that you get the settlement that you deserve.

In addition, other documents like the bill of lading and black box data can be used to determine the party responsible for the truck accident. These documents can prove that the driver of the truck was reckless and 18 wheeler Accident Lawsuit also aid in determining if the trucking company had any involvement in the crash. The truck manufacturer may also be liable for the accident when they made a mistake with their product.

Statute of limitations

The statute of limitations dictates the time frame you must start a lawsuit in the event of an accident. This period varies by state and is based on the type of accident you were in. In general you will have up to four years to bring a personal injury claim, and two years to file a wrongful-death suit. A seasoned attorney will guide you through the process and determine if you have an action.

Your personal injury lawyer will look over the site of your accident, talk to witnesses, and examine medical records, driver logbooks employee files, and maintenance records to find out who was at fault for the accident. It can take a long time so it's essential to begin the process as soon as you can to preserve the evidence.

The trucking company and their insurance provider will fight to avoid paying you what you deserve. They may also attempt to minimize your injuries, or even exaggerate them. If they are successful it could delay settlement of your claim. You could wait for more than a year to receive your settlement.

Your lawyer will be able to ensure that the statute of limitations will not expire before you're able to settle your claim or bring it to trial. There are certain situations that can overcome the time limit, for example the fact that you are a minor or suffer from mental impairment.

Timeline

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

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

It's important that an experienced trucking accident attorney is in place early on to ensure that your interests are safeguarded. An attorney can help you determine the maximum amount of compensation you're entitled to. They can also ensure that the insurance company isn't trying to settle your claim quickly and 18 wheeler Accident lawsuit that they're offering an amount that is fair.

Lawyers typically are paid on a contingency basis. They are not paid until the case is won. They are paid about a third of any final settlement or court award. Therefore, they have to wait for the rest of the money to come in before they can pay their bills and expenses.