Negotiating a Truck Accident Settlement

An accident involving a passenger car and a massive commercial truck can result in catastrophic injuries – especially to the occupants of the car. Between medical bills, lost income, pain, suffering, and other losses, truck accident victims face significant financial burdens, which can take an emotional toll.

If you were injured in a truck accident, you could be entitled to compensation for your losses through a settlement. However, trucking companies and insurers will fight hard to avoid paying accident victims what they deserve. An Indiana truck accident attorney with Craig, Kelley & Faultless LLC can help you seek compensation through a full and fair settlement.

Contact our office for a free consultation.

Why You Need Our Lawyers for Truck Accident Settlement Negotiations

Since 1999, Craig, Kelley & Faultless LLC has been dedicated exclusively to helping injury victims and their families seek justice and compensation after devastating truck crashes. We’ve seen how trucking companies and insurers attempt to minimize the effects of these accidents to avoid paying victims the money they deserve. We’re committed to fighting the insurers’ tactics and advocating for the rights of injury victims like you.

When you retain Craig, Kelley & Faultless LLC to handle your truck accident claim, you can trust us to provide the support and guidance you need to pursue accountability and financial relief.

Negotiating a Truck Accident Settlement in Indiana

Only a small percentage of personal injury cases end up going to trial. Most truck accident cases conclude with an out-of-court settlement. A truck accident settlement occurs when the parties negotiate and agree to an amount that fairly compensates the injured party for their losses.

There are some advantages to pursuing a settlement in a truck accident case. Negotiating out of court is typically less costly than going to trial and often leads to a resolution more quickly and with less stress than a trial. These aspects are appealing to injury victims who may be overwhelmed and face extensive bills.

However, a settlement may not be the right option in every situation. Our attorneys can help you determine the best path for your case.

How Do You Calculate Your Damages After a Truck Accident?

The average settlement for a truck accident lawsuit varies because every case is unique. Ultimately, it depends on the severity of a person’s injuries, their prospects for fully recovering, the amount of insurance coverage and assets available, and other factors.

Your attorney will calculate your damages after a truck accident by considering all your economic losses, such as medical expenses, lost income, vehicle repairs, and any other costs resulting from the accident and your injuries. Then, your attorney will look at the intangible losses you’ve incurred due to the collision, such as physical pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of quality of life, and more, and assign a monetary value to these losses.

These calculations and a review of previous settlements in similar truck accident cases will factor into your attorney’s settlement negotiations with the liable parties.

What Evidence Can Prove Liability and Extent of Losses?

In a truck accident case, our attorneys must prove that one or more parties are liable for a victim’s injuries and losses. To do this, we’ll gather and evaluate all the evidence to demonstrate that the truck driver, the trucking company, or another party was negligent or reckless, leading to the accident and your injuries.

Examples of evidence your lawyer might use to prove liability and the extent of losses include:

Medical records and doctor’s notes
Eyewitness statements
Testimony from accident reconstruction experts
Police accident reports
Photos of the accident scene
Hours-of-service (HOS) logs
The truck’s black box data
Truck maintenance and inspection records
Dashcam or traffic camera footage
Driving training records
Results of drug or alcohol testing

How Do You Know If a Settlement Offer Is Acceptable?

How much you should settle for after a truck accident will depend on the specifics of your case. A settlement amount that would be appropriate in one case may be inappropriate in yours. However, insurance companies often make low initial offers, hoping injury victims will be unaware of the total value of their claims.

For this reason, you should always let an attorney handle communications and negotiations with insurers. Your lawyer will know what an acceptable offer should include and won’t settle for less than you deserve. A fair settlement offer will account for all your ongoing and future losses, including medical expenses, lost wages, pain, and suffering.

How Long Do Truck Accident Claim Negotiations Take in Indiana?

The time it takes to negotiate a truck accident settlement can vary depending on the facts of a particular case. Some cases are resolved within a few weeks, while others may take six months to a year or longer.

Some factors that could affect the timeline include:

The amount and strength of the evidence
The severity of the injuries
Whether multiple parties are liable
Whether multiple people suffered injuries
The insurance company’s willingness to negotiate

What Happens If Negotiations Break Down?

Your case will proceed to trial if negotiations don’t result in a settlement agreement. Both sides will present their evidence at a trial and argue to the court. After both sides finish, the judge or jury will evaluate the evidence and issue a verdict. If the court rules in your favor, it will also determine how much compensation the at-fault parties owe you. Should the court rule against you, your attorney can prepare your case for appeal.

Our attorneys always prepare for the possibility of going to trial, allowing us to enter into negotiations from the strongest position possible.

Get Help from Our Indiana Truck Accident Lawyers Now

If you suffered injuries in a truck crash in Indiana, you likely have significant expenses. Our experienced truck accident attorneys can help you pursue the compensation and accountability you deserve. The dedicated legal team at Craig, Kelley & Faultless LLC is ready to negotiate aggressively with the insurance company to seek a full and fair settlement that accounts for all your losses.