How Long Does It Take to File an 18 Wheeler Lawsuit?
If you're involved in a collision with an 18 wheeler you'll need a personal injury attorney that knows the law regarding trucking and can help you obtain the highest possible settlement. It can take anything from three months to a couple of years to settle a truck accident case.
Determining fault in these types of accidents can be difficult and a variety of parties could be liable for your damages. 18 wheeler accident attorney nampa can identify the responsible parties and seek claims against each of them.
Damages
Accidents involving 18-wheelers or commercial trucks that are large can result in serious, life-threatening injuries. This is due to the weight and size of a truck being much larger than a car for a passenger. They also usually result in more severe damage to property and vehicles. Because of this, the damages granted by juries and settlements in 18 wheeler accidents tend to be much greater than those given for a normal motor vehicle accident.
Often, several parties may be at fault for an 18-wheeler crash. Truck drivers are typically the primary reason for accidents, since they are liable. However, the trucking company they work for can be held accountable in the event that they fail to properly educate their drivers or provide them with adequate equipment. Additionally, the trucking firm can be held accountable for encouraging or enticing their drivers to go over the federal requirements for hours of service. Additionally, the manufacturer of the truck or its parts can be held responsible when there is an auto defect that results in an accident.
It is crucial to determine all parties who are responsible for the accident to secure a fair and full settlement. An experienced 18 wheeler lawyer will investigate your case to determine who is responsible for causing your accident and be prepared to pursue compensation from each party responsible. Attorneys can seek non-economic damages like discomfort and pain in addition to financial losses.
Liability
Accidents involving trucks can be much more complex than car accident claims. Various parties can be held accountable for the accident, which includes the driver of the truck and the trucking company and the manufacturer of the vehicle. In addition, the trucking industry has incentives that can lead trucks to be reckless and even skip sleep to make deliveries quickly.
These factors can affect the time it takes to settle a truck crash claim. Injury to the plaintiff may impact the length of time it takes to get compensation. For serious injuries, it is possible to receive greater settlement amounts than minor injuries.
Furthermore, the trucking company's insurance provider will attempt to reduce their liability by reducing the value of the claim. This is why it's important to hire an experienced truck accident lawyer as quickly as you can. They will be able to fight these tactics to ensure that you receive the money you are entitled to.
Additional documents such as the bill of lading or black box data can be used to determine which party is liable for the truck crash. These documents can prove that the truck driver was reckless and will help determine whether the trucking company had any involvement in the accident. The manufacturer of the truck could also be liable for the accident if they had a defective product.
Statute of limitations
The statute of limitations dictates the time frame you must file a lawsuit for the cause of a crash. The statute of limitations varies state-to-state and is contingent on the type of accident that you were involved in. You have a four-year period to file a personal injury suit and a two-year period for filing a wrongful death suit. A seasoned attorney will assist you through the process and determine if you have a claim.
Your personal injury lawyer will investigate the area of the accident, interview witnesses, and review medical records, driver logbooks, maintenance and employee records to determine who was at fault for the accident. It can take a long time and it's crucial to begin this work immediately to safeguard the evidence.
The trucking company and their insurer will do everything they can to stop paying what you deserved. They might also try to overstate or minimize the severity of the severity of your injuries. If they succeed it could delay settlement of your claim. You could be waiting longer than a year for your settlement.
Your lawyer can make sure that the statute of limitations does not expire before you are in a position to settle your case or bring it to trial. Some circumstances can override the statute of limitations like when you are an adult and suffer from mental disabilities.
Timeline
Tens of thousands of semi-truck accidents happen in the United States each year, leading to fatal injuries or even death. These incidents are a huge business for the law firms that specialize in handling them. Settlements in 18 wheeler accident cases have been in the millions of dollars, and often times, billions.
An extensive investigation is necessary due to the nature and severity of trucking accidents. This process can take several months to complete. If there are multiple parties involved, it may take longer to reach an agreement on the liability and damages.
It is vital that a skilled trucking accident lawyer is present early in the process to ensure that your best interests are protected. A lawyer can help you with determining the maximum amount of compensation you're entitled to. They can also make sure that the insurance company does not try to settle your claim in a hurry and is providing an acceptable price.
Attorneys typically work on a contingency fee basis. This means that they won't be paid unless they prevail in the case. They get around a third of any final settlement or court decision. This means that they must wait for the rest of the money to arrive before they can pay their bills and expenses.