Semi-Truck Accident Lawsuit: How Long Does it Take to Settle?

If you’ve been hurt in a truck accident, you may wonder how long it may take to recover compensation from the at-fault truck driver or trucking company. Several factors will affect the timeline of your lawsuit, including the severity of your injuries, the length of your recovery, and whether the case must go to trial. Some truck accident cases settle in as little as a few months. Others require several years of litigation if the opposing sides cannot reach a settlement. Every case has different factors that affect the timeline. A truck accident attorney can give you a general idea about your claim after reviewing the details of the accident.

Contact Craig, Kelley & Faultless LLC for a free consultation with a Missouri truck accident lawyer. We have more than 20 years of experience handling truck accident cases. Several of our attorneys have been admitted to the Million Dollar Advocates Forum® and the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum® in recognition of the seven-figure settlements and court awards they’ve secured. We’re ready to fight for the compensation you need. Contact us today.

Truck Accident Lawsuit Overview

Determining how long it may take to settle your semi-truck accident case begins by understanding the steps in the litigation process. A truck accident lawsuit may involve:

• Investigation – A semi-truck accident lawsuit begins with an investigation of the crash to recover all available evidence. The investigation may involve hiring accident reconstruction, engineering, or trucking industry specialists to evaluate the evidence and provide testimony about the cause of the crash. Investigating your claim will involve gathering your medical records, bills, and income statements to document your injuries and losses.
• Filing of the insurance claim or demand letter– After collecting evidence, your truck accident lawyer will prepare a formal insurance claim or demand letter to put the trucking companies and their insurers on notice of your claim.
• Pre-suit settlement negotiations– Before you file a lawsuit, your lawyer may try to resolve the claim through settlement negotiations with the trucking companies and their insurers.
• Filing of the complaint– If settlement negotiations don’t succeed, you may need to file a lawsuit against those who are financially responsible. After you serve the complaint, the trucking companies may file an answer to your complaint.
• Discovery – The opposing sides in a lawsuit will undertake the discovery process to exchange evidence and depose witnesses, which helps to narrow down the issues in dispute. The trial court may encourage parties to hold mediation sessions to reach a settlement.
• Trial – If the parties cannot settle, a lawsuit will eventually reach trial, where a jury or judge will rule on the disputed issues in the case, such as who is at fault for the accident and the amount of compensation to be awarded.

Factors That Can Affect the Timeline of a Truck Accident Lawsuit

Some of the factors that may affect how long it takes your lawsuit to settle include the following:

• The severity of your injuries– If your injuries are severe, the time it takes to settle your case may increase. Ideally, you should wait until you have completed medical treatment before pursuing a settlement. You will have a clearer understanding of your medical expenses and other out-of-pocket costs related to the truck accident. Severe injuries take longer to heal. If you cannot wait to finish treatment before pursuing settlement negotiations, the negotiation process may take longer. You will need to seek compensation for anticipated future expenses and losses.
• The number of injured accident victims– Truck accidents may involve multiple vehicles and injure several drivers and passengers. A truck accident with multiple parties may take longer to settle, especially if the trucking companies want a global settlement with all the accident victims rather than settling separately with each injured individual.
• The number of potentially liable parties– Truck accidents may have more than one liable party. Multiple liable parties can complicate the settlement process if they try to shift the blame and financial responsibility for injuries onto one another.
• Whether you share any fault for causing the accident– Negotiating a settlement of your truck accident claim may take longer if you bear any share of responsibility for the crash. Under Missouri’s comparative negligence system, any compensation you are awarded may be reduced in proportion to the percentage of fault you have for the accident. Trucking companies and insurers may try to assign you more blame for the accident to reduce their liability. It is important to have attorneys who know how to push back against such negotiating tactics.
• The complexity of the evidence– Truck accidents may involve numerous pieces of evidence and documentation. It may take time to analyze the evidence and work with expert witnesses to build your case against the party or parties at fault for the crash.
• The strength of your case– A stronger legal case may encourage at-fault parties to settle more quickly. However, weaknesses in your case may give the trucking companies an avenue to prolong negotiations.
• The schedule of the trial court– If your case goes to trial, the schedule of the court will determine when the trial is held. It can take more than a year to go to trial. Some truck accident lawsuits take several years of litigation before eventually settling.

Schedule a Free Case Review with Our Experienced St. Louis Truck Accident Attorneys

Contact Craig, Kelley & Faultless LLC for a free, no-obligation consultation. Our seasoned St. Louis truck accident lawyers can review your case to help you understand your right to seek financial recovery and how long it might take. Give us a call at (800) 746-0226 or fill out the contact form on our website.