Getting involved in an auto accident of any kind is a distressing event that can derail a person’s life for days, weeks, months, or years. Truck accidents, those that involve semi-trucks, tractor-trailers, 18-wheelers, and other commercial vehicles, can be even more complicated and overwhelming to deal with, but you don’t have to handle these problems all on your own. A skilled truck accident attorney can help you obtain the compensation you are entitled to, and they can work to get you a settlement to avoid taking your case to court.
How long do truck accident settlements usually take?
This is a tricky question to answer, as it depends on numerous factors that can be difficult to predict. Fortunately, settlements tend to take less time than taking your case to trial, so being able to settle your case out of court may allow you to get your compensation sooner than if it doesn’t get resolved this way. Time is of the essence, of course, as recovering from truck accidents often takes thousands of dollars to get healthcare and resolve property damage issues.
Most truck settlement situations follow a similar pathway, which all come together to determine how long a truck settlement will take. It’s vital to enlist the help of a qualified truck accident attorney as soon as possible, as they can guide you through these steps and make the entire process go faster. As an added bonus, they can help you get the amount of money that is fair to recoup your losses after a truck accident.
Step 1: Gathering evidence and information at the scene of the accident
After getting involved in a truck accident, many victims enter a state of shock and need some time to recover. If you are severely injured, you will need to get medical attention right away to have professionals assess your injuries and determine the next steps. If your injuries are minor, or you have emerged without any noticeable injuries, the best thing you can do is to gather evidence and call the police to come to the scene and file a police report.
Take pictures and videos of the scene, and write down all relevant information. Get the names and phone numbers of witnesses, and exchange insurance information with the other driver. Calling the police is also imperative, as it can be much more difficult to achieve a settlement if no police report was filed. Never take money or agree not to press charges with another party involved in the accident.
Step 2: Get medical treatment when necessary
Many truck accident victims suffer from broken bones, strained muscles, lacerations, and other similar injuries. When undergoing treatment, be sure to keep all of your medical records and attend all of your medical appointments. This helps boost your case and provides more evidence of your injuries, pain and suffering, and lost wages.
Step 3: Speak to a truck accident lawyer
Nobody should have to handle this difficult time alone. Hiring a truck accident lawyer might be the best thing you can do for yourself in a truck accident situation, as they can help you understand your rights and whether you have a viable case. An attorney can advise you and help you feel more confident in your time of physical, mental, and financial stress.
An experienced truck accident lawyer can focus on building your case and gathering more evidence in order to prove fault and/or negligence. They will also spend time researching fair settlement amounts based on the injuries you sustained, the property damage you suffered, and more while you focus on your recovery.
Step 4: Prepare for and negotiate your settlement
One of the best reasons to hire a lawyer to handle your truck accident case is the fact that they can handle the high-pressure settlement negotiations that often happen between individuals and large corporations in these situations. The good news is that large companies likely want this problem to go away and have a vested interest in reaching a settlement agreement. Companies don’t want to enter a time-consuming lawsuit, and most would rather settle out of court.
There are no hard and fast rules about how long settlement negotiations take, but they can take anywhere from a couple of hours to a couple of weeks depending upon the situation.
What if you don’t reach a settlement?
If your settlement negotiations don’t go as well as planned, and both parties are unable to reach an agreement, the time may come to file a lawsuit. In Nevada, victims have two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit. This may seem like a lengthy amount of time to file, but many factors can drag out the process, so it’s best to get in touch with a lawyer right away and determine whether you need to file a lawsuit in a timely manner.
Although it’s often preferable to reach a settlement, as it can save victims and defendants time, money, and all kinds of other headaches, an experienced attorney will advise you to file a suit if the offender simply won’t offer a fair settlement to cover the costs of your medical bills, time lost from work, mental health care, and more. Your lawyer will be with you every step of the way and will do everything they can to build a bulletproof case that will get you the compensation you deserve.
Contact the attorneys at Pacific West Injury Law today
After a truck accident, it can feel impossible to know where to turn for help and advice. Fortunately, the staff at Pacific West Injury have decades of combined experience in auto and truck injuries, and they will fight on your behalf to help you recover from the accident you were involved in. If you’re ready for a free consultation with a skilled personal injury attorney, contact us today!
