How Long Does It Take to File an 18 Wheeler Lawsuit?
If you've been involved in a crash with an 18 wheeler you'll need a personal injury attorney that is familiar with the laws governing trucking and will assist you in obtaining the best possible settlement. It could take between three months and a couple of years to settle a truck accident case.
Multiple parties could be responsible for your injuries. Finding out who is at fault in these cases is a difficult. An experienced lawyer can identify the responsible parties and make claims against each one of them.
Damages
Accidents involving 18-wheelers or other large commercial trucks can result in serious, even life-threatening injuries. This is due to the weight and size of a truck which is more than a typical passenger car. They also tend to cause more extensive damage to property and vehicles. Due to this, the amount of damages granted by juries and settlements in 18 wheeler crashes are usually much greater than those given for a normal motor vehicle accident.
In many cases, multiple parties are accountable for an 18-wheeler accident. Truck drivers are often the main cause of accidents, as they are liable. The trucking company that they work for could be held accountable if the company does not provide adequate training or equipment for their drivers. The trucking company may also be liable if they encourage or rewards its drivers to break federal regulations regarding hours of service. The manufacturer of the truck or its parts can be held liable in the event of an auto defect that causes an accident.
Finding all the responsible parties is essential to secure a full and fair settlement. A competent attorney for 18-wheelers will investigate the incident to determine which party is accountable for your accident, and will be prepared to pursue compensation from each responsible party. In addition to seeking financial losses, your attorney may also pursue damages that are not economic like pain and suffering.
Liability
Truck accident cases are more complicated than standard car accident claims. The truck driver, the trucking company and vehicle manufacturer can all be held responsible for an accident. The trucking industry also offers incentives that may encourage trucks to be reckless and even skip sleeping in order to make deliveries quickly.
These factors can affect the time it takes to settle a truck crash claim. The plaintiff's injuries also have an impact on how long it will take to receive compensation. Severe injuries often lead to higher settlements and less than minor injuries which may result in a smaller settlement.
Moreover, the trucking company's insurance provider will attempt to minimize their responsibility by reducing the value of the claim. Therefore, it is crucial to get a truck crash lawyer as soon as you can. They will be able to counter these intimidating tactics to get you the justice you deserve.
Additional documents, such as the black box's data and bill of lading, can aid in determining who is accountable for the truck crash. These documents can prove that the truck driver was driving recklessly and will aid in determining whether the trucking company was involved in any involvement in the crash. If the manufacturer of the truck had an unsafe vehicle or a defective vehicle, they could be accountable for the crash.
Statute of limitations
The statute of limitation determines the length of time you must make a claim for the cause of a crash. The time frame varies from state to state and depends on the type of accident you were involved in. In general, you have four years to bring a personal injury claim, and two years to file a wrongful death lawsuit. An experienced lawyer will guide you through the process and determine if you have an action.
Your personal injury lawyer will investigate the area of the accident, talk to witnesses, and scrutinize medical records, driver logbooks maintenance and employee records to find out who was at fault for the accident. 18 wheeler accident attorney santa barbara can take a substantial amount of time and it is essential to begin this work as soon as you can in order to secure evidence.
The trucking company, and their insurance company will do everything they can to stop paying what you deserve. They may also try to minimize your injuries, or even exaggerate the severity of your injuries. If they are successful, it can delay the settlement of your claim. If they succeed, you could wait for a settlement for more than a year following the crash.
Your lawyer can ensure that the statute of limitations doesn't expire until you have settled your dispute or taken it to court. Certain circumstances may extend the statute of limitation like if you are an under-age person and suffer from a mental disability.
Timeline
Tens of thousands of semi truck accidents happen in the United States each year, causing debilitating injuries or death. These incidents are a huge business for law firms that specialize in handling these. Settlements in 18 wheeler accident cases have been in the millions of dollars, and often, billions of dollars.
Due to the nature of trucking accidents an exhaustive investigation has to be carried out to determine the extent of liability and damages. This process can take up to several months. If there are multiple parties involved, it can take longer to reach an agreement on liability and damages.
To safeguard your rights, it's crucial to have an experienced trucking accident lawyer on board early in the process. An attorney can help determine the amount of compensation you deserve. They can also make sure that the insurance company isn't trying to pay your claim too fast and they are providing an amount that is fair.
Attorneys typically operate on a contingent fee basis. They are not paid until the case is won. They receive about a third of any final settlement or judgment of the court. They must therefore wait until the remainder of their money is received before they can settle their bills and expenses.