Truck accidents can cause enormous property damage and devastating injuries—especially for the driver and passengers of the smaller car. If you suffered injuries in one of these collisions, you might wonder, How long does a truck accident claim take to settle? The amount of time it takes to settle a truck accident lawsuit depends on a host of factors, such as the complexity of the case, but acting swiftly can help ensure you meet the applicable filing deadlines in Georgia. An attorney can help you understand and meet this obligation and can file the lawsuit on your behalf.
MG Law advocates for injury victims throughout Georgia. We understand the pain that our clients experience and help them recover the financial damages they need to rebuild their lives. Our team has decades of experience successfully navigating the complex Georgia claims process and is here to help you get back on your feet.
How Are Truck Accidents Different from Other Accidents?
Truck accidents can be particularly complex because they often involve more serious injuries and more parties. Commercial drivers are also subject to more regulations that individuals, such as limitations on how many hours they can drive in a certain period. This affords more avenues for collecting evidence and proving negligence.
Because commercial trucks are generally protected by much larger insurance policies that personal vehicles, the insurance companies also have more to lose. This means they are going to look for any excuse to deny or undervalue your claim. It’s essential to have a lawyer on your side to help you get the best possible outcome for your case.
What Factors Impact a Truck Accident Settlement in Georgia?
Many injured victims are eager to know the average truck accident claim settlement in Georgia. Unfortunately, an average settlement value doesn’t exist. Each case is unique, affecting the physical, social, and financial well-being of a given person or family in multiple ways.
Factors that can impact the value of a truck accident settlement include the following:
- A determination of liability,
- The severity of injuries,
- Whether the victim shared any fault for the accident,
- The strength of your evidence,
- The effectiveness of your attorney,
- The number of potentially liable parties, and
- The amount of insurance limits.
Your attorney will use these and other factors to calculate an estimated value of the case. They then use this information to prepare settlement negotiations or argue at trial to maximize your compensation.
To allow your attorney to work most effectively, it’s important to get started on your claim as soon as you can. The best evidence will be available soon after the crash. The longer you wait, the more likely that evidence will be lost or important witness memories will fade. And if you wait too long, you can lose your right to file a claim altogether.
How Long Does a Truck Accident Claim Take to Settle?
If you’re an accident victim depending on compensation to make ends meet, you may be wondering, How long do truck accident claims take? Truck accident claims can take a few months or, in some cases, years to resolve. It depends on the case’s complexity, the parties’ willingness to negotiate, and the applicable law. Often, the longest part of the case is the discovery process, which allows both parties to request and submit vital information about what caused the accident and what should happen next.
The time it takes for a case to resolve does not always correlate with the quality of the outcome. A matter that takes just a few weeks to settle may not bring a favorable outcome to a plaintiff. Likewise, a case that takes years to resolve may not result in the best result for a given plaintiff.
Having a reasoned, legally sound argument and case strategy significantly impacts your case and the likelihood of recovering compensation, as does the overall strength of your claim. The best way to maximize your chance of winning your lawsuit is to hire an experienced attorney to help you conduct legal research, perform factual investigations, and develop an effective case strategy. Further, insurance companies and at-fault parties are more likely to take you and your claim seriously if you have an experienced attorney fighting for you.
Your truck accident lawyer is an advocate and shield, protecting you from the tactics that unscrupulous insurance companies use to persuade injury victims to accept settlements far lower than the actual value of the claim. Skilled lawyers understand these ploys and are trained to identify and counter these tactics.
What Are the Steps in the Truck Accident Settlement Process?
While every case is unique, each consists of a common set of steps. The typical stages of an accident claim include seeking medical treatment, contacting an attorney, filing a lawsuit, negotiating a settlement, and going to trial. An experienced truck accident attorney can guide you through this process and complete these steps on your behalf.
Seeking Medical Treatment
Seeking medical attention helps to address your physical injuries and helps to set up a strong foundation for your legal claim. You can use the medical records from the initial visit to prove the relationship between the accident and your injuries. Follow the doctor’s treatment recommendations and keep up with regularly scheduled appointments. Insurance companies may point to inconsistencies such as missed treatments to argue your injuries are less severe than they are.
Contacting an Attorney
Contact an attorney as soon as possible to investigate the circumstances of your truck accident and assert your legal rights. Your attorney will get to work immediately by gathering the evidence needed to prove your case and establish the truck driver’s liability. Additionally, your attorney can review and prepare a response to settlement offers given to you by the at-fault truck driver, trucking company, or insurance firm.
To determine a fair assessment of the compensation you deserve, most truck accident lawyers review the following:
- Your medical records and bills,
- Property damage estimates,
- Your wage loss,
- Loss of future earnings,
- Pain and suffering, and
- Other non-economic damages.
An attorney uses the above factors and others in Georgia law to tailor an appropriate demand letter and guide settlement negotiations. They also communicate with third parties on your behalf, giving them the space to heal from their injuries.
Negotiating a Settlement
You may be eager to obtain a quick settlement as your medical expenses mount. However, accepting initial offers may not be in your best interest. Before you sign any settlement offer submitted by an insurance company or at-fault party, ask a qualified attorney to review it and advise whether it is a fair offer.
In many cases, unscrupulous insurance companies try to take advantage of the vulnerable and sometimes desperate states of accident victims by offering them quick-fix settlement offers. The insurance company may tell them that this is the best that they can offer, but often this simply is not true. An experienced attorney can review the facts of the case, your injuries, the applicable law, and the offer to estimate what just compensation might look like in your situation.
Filing a Lawsuit
Filing a lawsuit may be necessary to protect your legal rights and help you obtain fair compensation to address your physical, psychological, and financial damages. In Georgia, accident you have two years to file a lawsuit and hold the at-fault party accountable for the collision.
If you fail to meet this deadline, the law may prevent them from ever filing a claim against the at-fault party. A lawyer can help you understand and meet this deadline, so you have the opportunity to tell your story and fight back against what happened to you. It is important to remember that filing an insurance claim is different from filing a lawsuit. If you have questions about the deadline in your Georgia case, consider contacting an experienced truck accident attorney.
Going to Trial
If the parties cannot reach a fair settlement, it may be necessary to go to trial, in which the parties present their arguments and evidence before a judge or jury. The length of a trial varies greatly depending on each case, from a few days to a few months. After both sides present their arguments, the judge or jury issues a final decision in the case.
Given what is at stake, it is critical to adequately prepare and have a qualified attorney present your case in court. They understand the complex Georgia litigation rules and have the necessary experience navigating the court process successfully.
Contact Us
At MG Law, we are leaders in the courtroom and advocates for our clients. We focused our practice exclusively on personal injury matters because we understand that anyone injured in a severe accident needs the assistance of an experienced legal team to help them navigate the unfamiliar claims process. We are here to answer your questions regarding compensation and justice for your injuries.
Our team harnesses the power of collaboration to create personalized and effective case strategies. Michael Geoffrey, the founder of the firm, has a 10.0 Avvo rating and earned the distinction of Top 40 Under 40. If you were in a truck accident in Georgia, contact us today to schedule a consultation.
Michael Geoffroy’s law practice focuses on auto collisions, premises liability, wrongful death, and catastrophic injury. He stands up for the cause of justice throughout Georgia and on behalf of his clients every day. He is a leader in both the courtroom and the community, having been recognized numerous times for his involvement in each.