2024 How Long Does It Take to Settle a Semi-Truck Accident in North Carolina?

If you need compensation after a truck accident, you may be wondering: “How long does it take to settle a semi-truck accident in North Carolina?” Unfortunately, there is no simple answer. A straightforward personal injury claim involving a truck or other commercial vehicle might be resolved in a matter of a month or so–as long as everything goes smoothly. Meanwhile, a similar case, with the addition of just one or two complicating factors, could take many months of negotiation or litigation before reaching a satisfactory conclusion.

If you’ve been hurt in a collision with a semi-truck on a North Carolina roadway, it’s very understandable that you would want a better grasp on the timeline for receiving compensation. It’s important to understand that this process, and the time it takes to play out, will vary significantly based on a number of interconnected factors.

Factors Impacting the Timeline of a Semi-Truck Accident Settlement in North Carolina

When determining how long it may take to settle a truck accident claim, it is necessary to examine several important aspects of the process. Each of these will have some effect on the timeline of any truck accident case.

Severity of Injuries

The extent and severity of the injuries sustained can have a critical role in your settlement timeline. This can be especially true when there are late-developing injuries or ongoing medical issues, as these can require multiple doctor visits to accurately determine their long-term costs. While gathering medical records and prognoses can be a time-consuming process, it is necessary to ensure that you can receive the full amount of compensation to which you are entitled.

Liability Disputes

With some roadway crashes, it is very clear which driver was to blame and which parties are entitled to compensation. In other cases, merely determining who is responsible for the accident can become a long, drawn-out process.

North Carolina is a contributory negligence state, meaning that multiple parties may be found partially liable for the same accident. While this can mean multiple defendants from which to seek compensation, you might also be found partially liable for your own injuries if you do not enter proceedings with a sound legal strategy.

Insurance Company Negotiations

Personal injury settlements related to semi-truck crashes are often held up by the insurance companies involved. Insurance companies are known for employing various tactics to delay settlements or reduce claim amounts, and it will take time for your lawyer to counter these maneuvers effectively.

Unless you have a lawyer working aggressively to keep things on track, you can expect insurers to require extensive documentation, dispute the facts of the case, and offer lowball settlements, all of which can delay your access to the compensation you deserve.

Other Damages

Truck accident cases typically involve property damage in addition to injuries. Determining the exact extent and severity of these damages can complicate negotiations and calculations, potentially delaying a settlement.

Number of Parties Involved

Truck accidents can be complex, multi-party affairs, and each new party involved has the potential to delay the case in some way. In addition to the injured party and the semi-truck driver, these cases can involve trucking companies, maintenance personnel, truck or parts manufacturers, and other motorists, not to mention everyone’s respective legal teams. The need to interface between all these various parties can make proceedings more tedious.

Litigation Process

When a fair settlement cannot be reached out of court, the timeline extends significantly because litigation becomes necessary. This process involves filing a claim, discovery, depositions, and potentially a trial–all phases that take some amount of time. To make the litigation process as swift as possible, work with a lawyer who has a proven record of success in truck accident cases and is known as an aggressive litigator.

The Quality of Your Attorney

When you are working with a knowledgeable and experienced attorney, you can be sure that they’re doing everything they can to keep your case on an expedited timeline. At the Law Offices of Wade E. Byrd P.A., we take pride in moving cases along as swiftly as possible, without ever sacrificing our attention to detail, the quality of our legal strategies, or your eventual settlement amount.

FAQs

Q: How Much Are Most Truck Accident Settlements?

A: Most truck accident settlements are commensurate with the injuries and damages caused by the specific accident in question. The total amount of any truck accident settlement will depend on a variety of factors; most importantly, the type and severity of injuries and property damage. Other, more subtle factors, such as the quality of your lawyer, can also have a significant role.

Q: What Is the Average Car Accident Settlement in North Carolina?

A: The average car accident settlement in North Carolina is not known because many such settlements are not part of the public record, having been finalized in out-of-court negotiations. The amount of each car accident settlement is based on the unique circumstances of the case, such as the severity of injuries and the extent of vehicular damage.

Q: How Long Do Most Accident Settlements Take?

A: Most accident settlements take as long as is necessary to resolve them to the satisfaction of the parties involved. Sometimes, this can be a simple matter of accepting an insurance company’s initial settlement offer, while other cases may need to resort to litigation in court to achieve an acceptable outcome. Speaking broadly, you should plan for the process to take several months. It is, unfortunately, not unheard of for such cases to take more than a year when matters are particularly complex or contentious.

Q: What Is a Trucking Settlement?

A: A “trucking settlement” refers to a financial settlement that is awarded to someone who has been injured in a collision with a semi-truck or other commercial vehicle. These settlements can be quite substantial in many cases, as the size and weight of semi-trucks make them capable of tremendous damage and grievous injuries.

Trust the Law Offices of Wade E. Byrd P.A. With Your North Carolina Truck Accident Case

If you’re involved in a truck accident case and want to keep proceedings on the most expedited timeline possible, the Law Offices of Wade E. Byrd P.A. can help. We are adept in all aspects of trucking and personal injury cases, and our firm would be proud to add you to our list of satisfied, well-compensated clients. Contact us today to set up a consultation where we can learn more about the details of your case and offer feedback on the right way to proceed.