As experienced Houston truck accident attorneys, one of the most frequently asked questions the team at Lapeze & Johns hears is, “How long will my truck accident claim to settle?”
This is a complicated question and one that cannot be answered quickly. Every case is unique and the time it takes to resolve will vary based on a number of factors, including some that might be completely out of your control.
But there are some key insights that can help you better understand your situation.
Insurance companies have earned a reputation for trying to reach quick settlements, often to their benefit, without the injured party knowing exactly what they are entitled to. Unfortunately, there isn’t much of a silver lining to settling quickly with an insurance company after your trucking accident, as doing so can severely derail your ability to recover compensation for long term pain and future medical treatment.
Hiring a personal injury attorney won’t necessarily speed up the process of resolving your truck injury claim, because when the insurance company finds out that you have obtained legal representation, their negotiation strategies are likely to shift.
However, in the long run, securing legal support will benefit you greatly.
Insurance companies may try to hamper negotiations by stalling as much as possible because they know the possibility of you getting more money goes up when you hire a Gulf Coast semi-truck accident lawyer to represent your best interests. On the other hand, they may be more willing to resolve the situation faster knowing that you have lawyers on your side.
If you have hired a Houston truck accident lawyer to represent you, the time it takes to settle your claim will depend on several factors, including the three factors of liability findings (whether you were partially at fault), the medical treatment that you have received (or haven’t), and uncovering whether the accident was severe enough to leave you with life-altering injuries.
In many instances, uncovering the facts about the accident, how much you have suffered physically and emotionally, and determining how much compensation you are deserving of can require much time to figure out.
Additionally, many other parties, such as medical experts, may become involved in the litigation process. This can further stretch out the duration of your case but may be a necessary step to ensure that you secure all compensation that is owed to you.
A lawsuit will be filed if the plaintiff and the insurance company fail to agree on a settlement. Given the two year statute of limitations you have in Texas, you will want to hire a Texas semi-truck accident lawyer as soon as possible.
Getting started on the process early can definitely help to minimize the amount of time it takes to resolve your claim. While you do have two years to file a claim, bare in the mind that they can be quite lengthy to settle. Additionally, NOT filing within the two years will essentially bar you from ever bringing your claim to court.
Once you start working with a reputable Texas truck accident lawyer, they can make sure you are meeting all deadlines in regards to submitting paperwork and meeting with the defendant’s legal counsel.
Because of their experiences and knowledge, a qualified attorney can prove to be vital in helping the claims process move forward as effectively and efficiently as possible.