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, trucking companies have teams of attorneys who are determined to avoid liability and limit the amount of compensation that plaintiffs receive.
An attorney for personal injury will analyze the incident to determine who is at fault and fight for fair compensation. Here are some guidelines that will aid you in gaining experience.
Collecting Evidence
As with any crash any other type of crash, a truck accident has to be properly investigated and documented. This includes gathering evidence from the scene of the accident, gathering witnesses, and obtaining photographs of the incident. The more evidence we have to support your claim, the more likely you are to receive the compensation you deserve.
This information will be gathered by a top lawyer in conjunction with trucking and safety experts. They will send spoliation notices to trucking companies to preserve any evidence that proves there was a violation of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations that led to your accident. Trucking companies often erase these documents if they are under the scrutiny of authorities, and a swift response is important to building your case.
Some of the most critical evidences we collect are from the truck's on-board technology and the driver's logbook. This data can reveal a variety of things, like the truck driver's fatigue and speed. It can also help identify who was responsible for the accident.
It is crucial to contact an attorney immediately after the incident. Even a month can be detrimental to your case. A qualified attorney will be able to gather evidence and draft the claim before the deadline expires.
Receiving Medical Attention
The need for medical attention as soon as you are aware of an accident is crucial. You can take care of your injuries while protecting your legal rights. If 18 wheeler accident attorney hawthorne wants to speak to you, do not be rude but forward them to your attorney. This will prevent them from using your words against you in the future.
A commercial truck can cause significant damage and even injuries if 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 is a problem for truck drivers. Since they must travel a lot of miles in a short time, they might attempt to get there faster by driving at a high speed. Distractions, like phone calls, texting and navigation systems. Daydreaming is a different distraction that could distract the driver from the road. Distance to stop is longer for larger trucks and require longer to stop when compared to passenger vehicles.
It is vital to save any evidence that is found at the crash site. Photograph the damage, the 18-wheeler that hit you and the crash scene. Get any witnesses to give their testimony in your case. Get their contact information. Attend all appointments and seek treatment for your injuries. The insurance company may use your failure to attend a treatment against you when assessing your claim.
Get Legal Assistance
In addition to seeking medical treatment, if you've been involved in an accident with an 18-wheeler, you should contact an experienced attorney. A quick call to an attorney is the best way to safeguard yourself and get the maximum amount of compensation for your injuries. Do not contact the insurance company without consulting an attorney. They will attempt to get you to settle to less than your claim is worth. When you are recovering the money, let a seasoned attorney handle the insurance company.
The trucking industry is subject to federal, state and private laws. This can make cases more complex. Trucking companies will often aggressively defend a case to reduce their own liability. An experienced lawyer can level the playing field and negotiate with the trucking company in order to maximize the settlement.
Large trucks are the cause of serious accidents that can cause major injuries. A McAllen attorney for accidents involving 18-wheelers can help you get the compensation you deserve, including the cost of your injuries along with vehicle damage, lost wages, and legal fees. An experienced lawyer will also ensure that you file your lawsuit within the two year statute of limitations. This is essential, because old evidence could be discarded or witnesses may die. Contact our firm for a free consultation if you have been injured by an 18-wheeler.
Finding A Settlement
There are a lot of things that could impact the timeline it takes for an 18-wheeler accident case to settle. Some of these are disputes about liability and damages. It can also take longer to settle a truck accident lawsuit if there several parties involved. The parties involved may not be willing to compromise which can cause negotiations to take longer.
If you've reached a negotiated settlement in your 18-wheeler accident case the amount you will receive will depend on how severe your injuries were and the kind of damages you suffered. In this type of case the most commonly cited damages are medical bills, lost wages, and property damage. Your attorney will look at the costs of your current treatment and your future medical requirements in calculating your damages. Non-economic damages are difficult to quantify. However your lawyer will collaborate with experts to develop an accurate estimate of your loss.
The majority of plaintiff attorneys work on a contingency-fee basis, meaning they don't receive a payment unless they succeed in winning their clients' cases or negotiate a settlement on behalf of them. The percentage of the settlement or court award that a plaintiff attorney receives is contingent upon the state's law and specifics of each case. Most lawyers in this field only take only a third of their client's final settlement.