One of the first concerns individuals have when they approach a personal injury law firm is the length of time it takes to settle a case. It’s an understandable question, as countless injured victims are in pain, experiencing trauma, and have financial debt looming over them. You want to pay your bills and return to your life as soon as possible and move on from your accident. However, just as no two accidents are exactly alike, there’s also no set rule for how long cases take to settle.
However, there are some reasons why accidents involving semi-trucks tend to take longer to resolve than typical car accidents. Semi-truck accident cases often take months to settle. While it’s fairly easy to determine if the driver of a passenger vehicle is responsible for paying damages, liability can be trickier to determine in cases involving commercial trucks.
In a trucking accident, the parties who can be held responsible for injuries include the driver, the trucking company, the manufacturer of the truck, and more. Often trucking companies attempt to shift blame onto their drivers to avoid having to compensate victims, which can take more time to refute. Sometimes, insurance companies will attempt to settle your case quickly with an offer in an effort to pay as little as possible. Though it can be tempting to get the matter over with, it’s recommended that you consult an attorney to determine how much your case is worth. First settlement offers are often rejected as a result, which increases the length of time it takes to resolve your case.
Other factors that can affect the timeline to settle your accident claim include:
- How long you waited to contact an attorney: The sooner you hire an attorney, the sooner they can begin working on your behalf to gather evidence and negotiate with insurance companies. Our attorneys work quickly and efficiently so our clients can return to their lives as soon as possible.
- What injuries you have and how long it will take for you to recover: In most cases, you can’t be sure what costs of care you’re facing until you know what your recovery looks like. Determining the extent of your injuries and damages can take time before you officially begin the claims process.
- What the trucking company’s insurance policy offers: The higher the coverage offered by a policy, the more the insurance company will work to protect their finances. Trucking companies are known for having a higher amount of coverage than passenger car drivers.
Trial-Ready Lawyers by Your Side
Our attorneys have more than 100 years of combined experience and successes both in and out of the courtroom that we use in each of our cases. Our attorneys have been recognized by the National Trial Lawyers Association Top 100 Trial Attorneys, National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40, Million Dollar Advocates Forum, and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum. We are passionate about helping people in their time of need by building their cases and relentlessly pursuing justice on their behalf.
At Wood Craig Miller, LLC, our attorneys are on the side of injured individuals and families. We strive to bridge the gap between individuals and powerful employers and insurance companies.
Call Wood Craig Miller, LLC at , or contact us online if you’ve been injured by a semi-truck. We can get to work immediately to secure the full and fair amount of compensation you deserve.
