How Long Does an 18 Wheeler Case Take to Settle?

Accidents involving large vehicles are more complicated than accidents involving other types of vehicles. In addition, companies that transport goods have legal teams that are determined to deny any liability and limit the amount of compensation that plaintiffs receive.

A personal injury lawyer will conduct an investigation into the incident and determine who is responsible. They will also fight for fair compensation. Here are some helpful tips to help you start.

Collecting Evidence

A truck accident must be investigated and documented just like any other accident. This involves gathering evidence from the scene of the accident, obtaining witnesses, and collecting photographs of the accident. The more evidence you have to support your claim, your chances of obtaining compensation are greater.

This information will be collected by an experienced lawyer working with experts in safety and trucking. They will issue spoliation notifications to trucking companies in order to save any documents that might prove violations of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations that caused your accident. Trucking companies usually erase these documents if they are scrutinized by authorities, so a speedy response is essential to build your case.

The most crucial evidences we gather come from the truck's onboard technology and the driver's logbook. This information can reveal many things, including the truck driver speeding or driving too long, resulting in fatigue. This information can also be used to determine who is to blame in an accident.

This is why it is important to speak with an attorney as soon as you can after the accident. Even a month's time can be detrimental to your case. A competent attorney can collect evidence and submit your claim before the deadline expires.

Get Medical Attention

The need for medical attention as soon as you are aware of an accident is essential. This will help you treat your injuries, and also protects your legal rights. Refer an insurance adjuster to your lawyer respectfully and with a firm hand when they attempt to speak to you. This will stop them from using what they say later against you.

A commercial truck can cause severe damage and even injuries when involved in an accident. Accidents can happen for many different reasons. Some of these accidents are common to all vehicles, whereas some are only for large trucks. Speeding - because truck drivers have to cover for a long distance in a short amount of time, they might attempt to reach their destination faster by driving too fast. Distractions like phone calls, texting, navigation systems, daydreaming, or other things that divert the driver's focus off the road. Stopping distance is longer for larger trucks and require longer to stop when compared to passenger vehicles.

It is recommended to save evidence at the scene of the accident, so make sure to photograph any damages and the 18 wheeler accident law firm-wheeler that struck you as well as the crash site. If there are any witnesses, collect their contact details and ask them provide a written statement in support of your case. Attend all appointments and seek treatment for your injuries. The insurance company could make use of your inability to attend a treatment against you when evaluating your claim.

Legal Assistance from an Attorney

In addition to seeking medical treatment, if suffered injuries in an accident caused by an 18 wheeler, you should contact an experienced attorney. Engaging an attorney as soon as possible is the best way to protect yourself and receive maximum compensation for your injuries. Do not contact the insurance company without consulting an attorney. They will try to get you to settle to less than your claim is worth. Let an experienced lawyer negotiate with the insurance company as you recover from your injuries.

Trucking companies are regulated by federal and state laws as and private laws which can increase the complexity of these cases. In most cases, the trucking company will fight a case with a lot of force to minimize their liability. An experienced attorney can bargain with the trucking company to maximize your settlement.

Large trucks can cause serious injuries. A McAllen lawyer for 18 wheeler accidents can assist you in getting the compensation you're entitled to for your injuries as well as car damage, lost wages, legal fees, and pain and suffering. An experienced lawyer will also ensure that you make your claim within the two-year time frame of limitations. This is crucial, as old evidence could be discarded or witnesses may die. If you've been injured in an accident caused by an 18 wheeler, contact our firm to schedule an appointment free of charge.

Find a Settlement

There are a myriad of factors which can affect the amount of time it takes to settle an 18 wheeler accidents-wheeler accident case. Some of these are disputes over the amount of liability and damages. If there are multiple parties involved, it may take longer to settle the lawsuit arising from a truck accident. These parties may not be willing to compromise, which can lead negotiations to take longer.

Once you've reached a negotiated settlement in your 18-wheeler accident the amount you get will depend on how severe your injuries were and the type of damage you suffered. The most common damages that are incurred in this kind of case include medical bills, lost wages, and property damage. Your lawyer will analyze the costs of your current treatment as well as your future medical needs when calculating your damages. Non-economic damages are often harder to quantify, but your lawyer will work with expert witnesses to create an overall report of your losses.

Most plaintiff lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, which means they aren't paid until they succeed in winning their clients' cases or reach a settlement for them. The exact percentage of the final settlement or court award the plaintiff attorney receives is contingent on the state's laws and the details of each case. Most lawyers in this field only take only a third of their client's final settlement.