Florida residents are used to sharing their roads with huge commercial trucks. Usually, such travels are uneventful, but there are times when truck accidents occur. If you were injured in such a situation and filed a truck accident claim, this is the timeline you can expect.
Obtaining evidence
Obtaining evidence is crucial in any lawsuit involving motor vehicle accidents; truck collisions are no different. The police accident report, photos of the scene, medical records and bills and witness statements are necessary. You may also want to get the truck driver’s electronic logs from the trucking company to show whether the driver was speeding, working past their shift or anything else relevant.
If necessary, experts can reconstruct the events to determine how the accident occurred. While this can lengthen the timeline of your truck accident claim, it’s a positive thing because it may increase your settlement amount.
Filing your claim
When the evidence shows that the truck driver, trucking company or other party is liable for the accident and your injuries, you can file your truck accident claim. With legal help, you send a demand letter that outlines the circumstances of your case and a settlement amount for your damages. Those damages might include personal injury, property damage, lost wages, pain and suffering and emotional distress.
If your claim seeks a settlement with an insurance company, avoid negotiating on your own; it could result in a lowball offer to avoid paying what you deserve. In any case, if the defendant or insurance company refuses to agree to pay a fair settlement for your damages, you can file a truck accident lawsuit.
Many truck accidents end up settling without going to trial. However, if the liable party or their insurance company refuses the amount requested in the demand letter, your case can proceed to the trial phase. This can also cause a longer timeline in your claim. At this point, if your case is successful, a jury determines the compensation you recover.
Truck accident cases are often complex, but the more evidence you have, the stronger your claim. It might result in a faster timeline.
