You were involved in a truck accident with an 18-wheeler last week. Thankfully, you did not have any life-threatening injuries; that said, you have rightfully found yourself a personal injury attorney, asked the right questions, and handed over as much evidence as you could find on your own. All that’s left is to prepare yourself mentally for the uncharted road ahead.
Given the circumstances, you feel as confident as possible, but you can’t help but wonder how long a truck accident claim takes to settle. After all, no one wants a drawn-out personal injury claim—even if they are confident they’ll win.
On top of that, your medical bills are piling up, and you are struggling to get back to work. Will it take a few days? A week? A few months? Can’t it all be settled today so that everyone can move on with their lives? Unfortunately, this is a difficult question to answer since no two personal injury cases are the same. One case could involve a small trucking company that quickly admits fault, is willing to do what it takes to make the victim whole again, and is simply happy no one was seriously hurt. Another could involve difficult insurance company negotiations, questions over who’s really at fault, accident reconstruction specialists, millions of dollars in potential damages, and a lengthy, drawn-out court battle. Many more truck accident claims fall somewhere in the middle of these two scenarios.
The Short Answer Is That It’s Best To Let Your Case Play Out
We cannot give you a specific amount of time a truck accident claim takes to settle. Sure, it could take a few weeks to resolve. But it could just as easily take months or even years, depending on the specific facts of that particular case. From our experiences, even what seem like nip-and-tuck cases rarely are. Each one must go through specific steps that may not be known immediately and could drag the process out. In many cases, you may have to go to court to possibly receive compensation for your injuries and losses.
How long a truck accident claim takes to settle depends on a variety of factors, including but not limited to the following:
- The severity of injuries and extent of property damage
- Length of medical treatments
- Pre-existing conditions
- How many parties are involved
- How much or little the parties agree on various issues
- How long it takes to investigate and gather evidence
- Liability disputes
- Insurance company cooperation
- Witness availability
- Settling out of court vs. going to trial
- Victim’s willingness to settle
- Court backlogs
- Not having key documents or paperwork on hand
- Potential third parties
- Unforeseen circumstances
Personal injury cases (including truck accidents) are important legal matters and should not be rushed. Victims and their families should seek as much information as possible and hire a knowledgeable truck accident attorney to guide them through everything that happens next. If the details of your case allow you and your attorney to work through your situation quickly, that’s fantastic. But if it takes longer—as it likely will—let the wheels of justice play out as needed.
Seek Guidance From an Attorney Now
One of the smartest decisions truck accident victims can make following their accident is to seek guidance from an attorney. Truck accidents involving semis and 18-wheelers are highly complex legal matters that often result in serious physical and emotional trauma. You need and deserve someone who can stand confidently in your corner, defend your rights, and determine what happened, who is responsible, and what should happen next.
You deserve compassionate and knowledgeable legal advice, and we are here to help.
Call Keys Law Offices Today!!
Large truck accidents can occur for various reasons, including fatigue, distracted driving, speeding, inadequate training, and drug and alcohol use. Sometimes, the truck company can be liable for the accident if it fails to maintain or inspect the truck properly or violates federal or state regulations. At Keys Law Offices, we are dedicated to representing victims of truck accidents and their families, including those involving semi-trucks.
We understand the complex legal and regulatory issues involved in truck accident cases, and we know how to investigate and litigate these cases to ensure that our clients get the compensation they deserve. Please do not hesitate to contact us for a free consultation.
Our staff is always available. Call us today!