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 require a lawyer who is familiar with trucking laws and can help you find the best settlement. A truck accident case can be anywhere between three months and two years to settle.
Many parties could be accountable for your damages. Finding out who is at fault in these accidents is complicated. An experienced lawyer can identify all parties liable and assert claims against each of them.
Damages
Accidents involving depew 18 wheeler accident law firm-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 commercial truck being greater than a passenger car. These accidents also typically result in more severe destruction to vehicles and property. Due to this, the amount of damages granted by juries and settlements in seminole 18 Wheeler accident lawsuit wheeler accidents tend to be much greater than those that are awarded in a typical motor vehicle accident.
Often, several parties may be responsible for causing an 18-wheeler accident. Truck drivers are usually the primary reason for accidents, since they are negligent. However, the company they work for can be held liable as well in the event they fail to train their drivers or provide them with proper equipment. The trucking firm could be liable if they encourage or rewards its drivers to break federal regulations on hours of service. The manufacturer of the truck or its components is liable when there is an auto defect that causes an accident.
Identifying all the liable parties is vital to securing an honest and complete settlement. A skilled attorney for 18-wheelers will investigate your case to determine who is responsible for causing the accident, and will be prepared to pursue compensation from each party responsible. Your lawyer can seek damages that are not economic, such as pain and discomfort as well as financial losses.
Liability
The cases involving truck accidents are more complex than normal car accident claims. Different parties could be held responsible for the occurrence, including the driver of the truck, the trucking company, and the vehicle manufacturer. The trucking industry also provides incentives that could encourage trucks to be reckless and even to skip sleep in order in order to make deliveries quickly.
These factors can affect the time required to settle a lawsuit. The plaintiff’s injuries also play a role in the time it takes to receive compensation. In the case of severe injuries, they often result in larger settlement amounts as opposed to minor injuries that may only result in a smaller settlement.
Moreover, the trucking company’s insurance provider will attempt to limit their liability by reducing the value the claim. It is essential to find a truck accident lawyer as soon as you can. They will fight these intimidation tactics to secure you the compensation you deserve.
Additionally, additional documents like the bill of lading or black box data can help determine who is accountable for the truck crash. These documents could prove that the driver of the truck was reckless and also help determine if the trucking company had any involvement in the accident. The truck manufacturer could be liable for the accident when they made a mistake with their product.
Statute of limitations
The statute of limitations defines how long you can bring a lawsuit after the cause of a crash. The period of time varies according to the state and depends on the type of accident that you were involved in. In general you have four years to file an action for personal injury, and two years to file a wrongful-death lawsuit. A knowledgeable attorney can guide you through the process and determine whether you have an outstanding case.
Your personal injury lawyer will examine the scene of the accident, interview witnesses, and examine medical records, driver logbooks employee files, and maintenance records to determine who was responsible for the crash. It can take a long time so it’s essential to begin this work immediately to safeguard the evidence.
The trucking company and their insurance company will fight to deny you what you deserve. They might also attempt to downplay your injuries or even exaggerate the severity of your injuries. If they succeed they could delay the settlement of your claim. You could wait for more than a full year for your settlement.
Your lawyer will make sure that the statute of limitations doesn’t expire before you’re capable of settling your claim or even go to trial. Certain circumstances may extend the statute of limitations like when you are a minor and have a mental disability.
Timeline
In the United States, there are tens of thousands of semi truck accidents each year that result in debilitating injuries and death. The law firms that specialize on these incidents make huge sums of money. Settlements in 18-wheeler accidents can reach millions and billions of dollars.
Due to the nature of trucking accidents a thorough investigation must be conducted in order to properly determine liability and damages. The process can take several months to be completed. In addition, if a case involves multiple parties, it could take longer for them to come to an agreement on damages and liability.
To protect your rights, it’s crucial to get a knowledgeable trucking accident lawyer in your corner at the beginning of the process. A lawyer can help you in determining the best amount of compensation you’re entitled to. They can also make sure that the insurance company is not trying to resolve your claim too quickly and also that they offer an appropriate amount.
Attorneys generally work on a contingency basis. They are not paid until the case is won. They are paid about one-third of any final settlement or court award. This means that they have to wait for the remainder of the money to come in before they can pay their bills and expenses.