If you’ve been injured in an 18-wheeler accident, you’re probably wondering how long a truck accident claim takes to settle. A successful claim can help you replace your financial losses and give you the support you need to treat your injuries, but you might have to be patient.
Depending on your case, getting the compensation you’re owed could take months or even over a year. Since there’s no standard timeframe for claims, it’s best to talk to a Ponca City truck accident lawyer to find out how long your case might take. They can give you a rough idea of how long it might take to settle and update you when they’re close to a settlement.
Factors that Can Affect How Long It Takes to Settle Your Truck Accident Claim
Several aspects of your case may impact how long it takes a truck accident attorney to reach a settlement for your claim. To get a better idea of how long your case might take, consider the following factors:
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Severe crashes take longer to investigate, as medical records and many other forms of evidence must be collected. If your truck accident was severe and involved serious injuries or fatalities, it may take longer to settle than if you only suffered a few bruises and mild vehicle damage.
Amount of Drivers Involved
If multiple drivers were involved in your truck accident, it might take longer to settle your claim than if it was just between you and a truck driver. When multiple people are involved in a case, determining who is at fault can take a while. Dealing with multiple insurance companies can also add to the time it takes to resolve the case.
Availability of Evidence
Your attorney must collect evidence to prove to insurers that the truck driver or their employer should be held liable for your losses. If evidence of your truck accident goes missing, gets destroyed, or if there isn’t enough evidence to build a strong claim, reaching a settlement might take longer than expected.
Involvement of Professional Witnesses
Some cases require help from professional witnesses to reach a settlement. For example, if a defective part or mechanical failure caused your truck crash, your attorney will have to work with a professional witness who has knowledge about truck components to find evidence that shows a malfunction caused the accident.
If it takes your attorney a while to find a professional witness who’s able and willing to provide testimony for your claim, you’ll have to wait longer than usual to get the settlement you’re looking for.
Disputes Over Liability
When filing a collision claim, identifying the cause of the accident is important. If there are disputes about who caused the truck accident, it will likely take longer for your claim to resolve and for you to receive a fair settlement. If the truck driver or trucking company refuses to accept responsibility, your attorney will have to work harder to prove liability.
Establishing liability can take even longer if there are conflicting witness testimonies. Fortunately, an experienced attorney will know how to deal with the situation. They’ll take the actions required to prove fault and wrap your case up as soon as possible.
The Extent of Your Damages
The amount of losses you’ve taken due to the truck accident can also affect how long the settlement process takes. If you need a significant amount of compensation for medical bills, income losses, vehicle repairs, and non-economic losses, it could take a while for your attorney to negotiate a fair offer with the insurance company.
Insurance Company’s Willingness to Cooperate
Unfortunately, many insurers are eager to deny legitimate claims to reduce the amount of money they have to payout. If the insurance company is stubborn and refuses to cooperate, your lawyer will need more time to win them over and reach a fair agreement.
In the end, if the insurer fails to offer a fair payment, you can still take the at-fault party to court. However, if that happens, you can expect a considerable increase in the time it takes to settle your truck accident claim.
Communication Between the Parties Involved
When it comes to claims and lawsuits, clear communication between both parties is essential. If your attorney is having trouble coordinating with the other party’s insurance provider or their attorney, it could take longer for your claim to settle, forcing you to wait to get the compensation you need to recover from your truck accident injuries.
If you haven’t hired a lawyer yet, you’ll want to look for one with excellent communication skills. That way, you can be confident they have what it takes to deal with hard-to-reach defense attorneys and insurance adjusters.
Your Filing Deadline
According to Oklahoma Statute §12-95, truck accident victims in Oklahoma have two years from the date of a collision to file a lawsuit. If your filing deadline is nearing, your attorney will likely do everything they can to speed up negotiations with the insurance company.
That way, even if the insurance provider denies your claim, you’ll still have enough time to file a civil suit against the party responsible for your injuries.
Court Backlog of Cases
If the court you submit your truck accident lawsuit to has many pending cases, it will probably take longer for your suit to be resolved. Even once your trial begins, it could take months or even as long as a year for a verdict to be announced.
If your attorney advises you to file a personal injury lawsuit, they’ll keep you updated throughout the process and let you know when they think a verdict is on the horizon.
Remember, it could be worth waiting for your suit to reach a conclusion or your claim to settle, as the compensation you could receive will help you cover your losses and potentially change your life.
Our Firm Can Get Your Truck Accident Claim Settled as Soon as Possible
At BDIW Law, our team understands how hard it can be to wait for the compensation you need to pay your medical bills and support yourself while you recover from an injury. That’s why we’re committed to doing everything we can to speed up the claims process without reducing the amount of compensation you receive.
While you wait for your settlement, we can connect you with lenders so you can get the financial assistance you need to pay urgent bills. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation and find out how long it might take for your truck accident claim to settle.
