How Long Does It Take To Settle a Louisiana 18-Wheeler Accident Claim?
Louisiana 18-wheeler accidents tend to be more complicated than standard Louisiana auto accident cases. Thus, settling an eighteen-wheeler insurance claim can easily take anywhere from months to a couple of years.
Why? Louisiana big rig truck accidents tend to involve more severe, life-threatening, and dangerous injuries, so medical care and recovery can take many months and even years. A settlement often cannot be reached until all the medical bills are collected and tabulated. Further, as healing progresses, it may become clear that there will be future medical expenses because of long-term medical conditions and disabilities caused by the accident. It takes time to estimate precisely how long future medical care will be needed and the associated costs of that care.
Also, there may be many parties who can be held legally liable under Louisiana law, including the driver, the driver's employer, the owner of the truck, the repair company that serviced and maintained the tractor-trailer truck, and even the manufacturer of the truck (if a design or manufacturing defect had some causal connection to the accident). It takes time to investigate the cause of the Louisiana 18-wheeler accident, to determine what happened, and to understand who or what caused the crash.
Victims who are injured almost always do not want to obtain less money than they can. Thus, it is not advisable to "rush" a settlement since, under Louisiana negligence law, victims are entitled to full compensation for their injuries and any damage to property (like their vehicle and the vehicle's contents).
Moreover, understand that once a settlement has been reached, there is no "going back for more." If victims "rush" to settle, there will be no additional settlement money if there are more medical procedures and expenses incurred after settlement. This issue is one reason that victims may benefit from consulting with experienced Louisiana personal injury lawyers who can help determine the cause of an accident and help locate all of the at-fault parties. In undertaking these tasks, your Louisiana 18-wheeler truck accident lawyers can increase your chances of obtaining a full recovery of compensation. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation.
As noted, the severity of the injuries and determining the full list of at-fault parties are two factors that determine how long it takes to settle a Louisiana 18-wheeler accident claim. Another reason why Louisiana big truck accident cases take more time is that truck companies tend to be aggressive when defending accident claims. With typical auto accident claims, the owner of the vehicle that caused the accident generally lets the insurance company handle the settlement negotiations. However, trucking companies take a much more active role and are not afraid to vigorously defend a personal injury lawsuit, especially when a lot of money may be on the line.
Contact A Louisiana Personal Injury Attorney Today
For more information, contact the Law Offices of Philip B. Adams. If you have been injured in a Louisiana accident, our Louisiana truck accident lawyer can help you recover the full compensation you are entitled to according to Louisiana law.