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

If you're involved in an accident with an 18-wheeler, you'll require a lawyer who is well-versed in trucking laws and can assist you to achieve the highest settlement possible. It could take between three months and a couple of years to settle a truck crash case.

Finding out who is responsible for these incidents can be a challenge and multiple parties could be liable for your damages. An experienced lawyer will be able identify all liable parties and take legal action against them.

Damages

Accidents involving 18 wheeler accident lawsuits-wheelers or commercial trucks that are large can result in serious, even life-threatening injuries. This is due to the weight and size of a truck being greater than a passenger car. These accidents are also more likely to cause significant damage to vehicles and property. In this way, the amount of damages that are awarded in 18 wheeler accidents settlements and jury awards are often significantly greater than those in a normal motor vehicle crash.

In many cases, multiple parties are responsible for an 18-wheeler accident. It could be the truck driver, whose negligence is usually the primary cause of these accidents. However, the company they work for can be held responsible in the event that they fail to properly educate their drivers or provide them with proper equipment. The trucking company could also be liable if it encourages or rewards its drivers to break the federal rules regarding hours of service. In addition, the company that makes the truck or its components can be held liable for an auto defect that leads to an accident.

Finding all the responsible parties is vital to securing an honest and complete settlement. A competent attorney for 18-wheelers will review the case to determine which party is responsible for your accident, and will be prepared to pursue compensation from each responsible party. Your lawyer can pursue non-economic damages such as pain and discomfort as well as financial losses.

Liability

Truck accident cases are much more complex than normal car accident claims. There are many parties that can be held responsible for the accident, including the truck driver and the trucking company and the car manufacturer. The trucking industry has incentives that may encourage trucks to drive recklessly or even skip sleep in order to make deliveries quickly.

These factors can affect the time needed to settle a truck accident claim. Personal injuries to the plaintiff can also affect how long it takes to get compensation. The most severe injuries usually result in higher settlement amounts as opposed to minor injuries which may result in a smaller settlement.

Additionally, the trucking company's insurance provider will try to limit their liability by reducing the value of the claim. This is why it's important to engage an experienced truck accident lawyer as soon as possible. They will fight against these intimidation tactics to ensure that you get the compensation you deserve.

Furthermore, supplementary documents such as the bill of delivery and black box data can help identify who is responsible for the truck accident. These documents could prove that the truck driver was driving recklessly and can help determine if the trucking company had any involvement in the accident. If the truck manufacturer manufactured an unsafe vehicle or a defective vehicle, they could be accountable for the crash.

Statute of limitations

The statute of limitations dictates how long you have to start a lawsuit in the event of an accident. The statute of limitations varies state-to-state and also depends on the kind of accident you were involved in. In general, you have four years to bring an injury claim and two years to file a wrongful death suit. An experienced lawyer will guide you through the process and determine if you have an outstanding case.

Your personal injury lawyer will look over the site of your accident, question witnesses, and 18 wheeler Accident Lawsuits review medical documents, driver logbooks, employee files, and maintenance records to find out who was at fault for the crash. This may take a while therefore it is important to begin this process as soon possible to preserve the evidence.

The trucking company and their insurance company will fight to avoid paying you the amount you deserved. They may also try and reduce or exaggerate the severity of the severity of your injuries. If they are successful they could delay the settlement of your claim. Ultimately, you could be waiting for your settlement for over a year after your crash.

Your lawyer will ensure that the statute of limitations doesn't expire until you settle your claim or brought it to court. Certain circumstances may extend the statute of limitations in certain situations, for example, the case of an adult and suffer from a mental impairment.

Timeline

Tens of thousands of semi truck accidents happen in the United States each year, that can cause fatal injuries or even death. These incidents are a huge business for the law firms that specialize in handling these. The settlements made in 18 wheeler accident lawsuits wheeler accident cases have been in the millions of dollars, and oftentimes even billions.

Due to the nature of trucking accidents an extensive investigation needs to be carried out to determine liability and damages. The process can take several months to be completed. If there are multiple parties involved, it can take longer to reach an agreement on liability and damages.

It is crucial that a knowledgeable trucking accident lawyer is present at the beginning of the process to ensure that your interests are 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 are offering an appropriate amount.

Attorneys usually operate on a contingency fee basis. They are not paid unless the case is won. They get around a third of any final settlement or court decision. They have to wait until the remainder of their funds arrive before they can settle their bills and expenses.