In our estimation, the majority of truck accident injury claims with National Interstate Insurance Company take between 6 and 18 months to settle. We would say that most cases take at least 1 year, from the point of investigating the accident to obtaining a settlement check from the insurance company.
Unfortunately, truck accidents are more complex than most people expect, and this is due to federal and state regulations that govern how commercial trucks are operated and maintained. Drivers and their employers are bound by strict regulations as well. In most of the truck accident cases we handle, we find that there was a violation of one of more FMSCA regulations, meaning that the driver or the employer was negligent in their duty of care to the general public.
Our Recent Verdicts and Settlements
$1.5 Million
$1.5 Million
$2 Million
$1.5 Million
$734,851
$600,000
How Long will a Truck Accident Claim with National Interstate Take to Settle?
Each accident where a truck is involved has its own set of details and factors that play a role in the settlement process. That’s why some people are able to resolve their case within a few months, while other claims require 2 or more years of work.
In this article, we will examine the most important variables that impact the length of time it takes to settle a National Interstate accident claim.
The Investigation Process
All accidents involving tractor trailers, semis, and other commercial trucks require specialized investigations that can take weeks or months to complete. There are many questions that must be answered during the investigation process, which include:
- Did negligence or deliberate misconduct by the driver cause the accident?
- Were there FMSCA regulations that the driver or the employer / owner of the truck failed to comply with?
- Did the employer run a thorough background check according to FMSCA regulations prior to hiring the driver?
- Was the accident due to inadequate repairs and other maintenance issues?
- Did the accident occur because of defects that were caused an auto or parts manufacturer?
Level of Injury and Associated Complications
Settling your case will take longer if you end up with serious injuries, particularly ones that are likely to cause disability. With severe injuries, it can take 1 or more years before you reach maximum medical improvement, or MMI. This is a medical term used to describe the point where no further recovery can be expected, even with continued medical treatments.
Until you have reached MMI, you should put off any settlement offers from National Interstate Insurance. Without an accurate assessment of the health conditions you may have to deal with for the rest of your life, it’s impossible to determine a fair amount of compensation for a truck accident claim.
Liable Entities in a Truck Accident Case
We normally think of the drivers as the people at fault in an accident, but there may be other parties that can be blamed, like the company that owns and maintain the vehicle. If they failed to provide proper maintenance and repairs on the truck, that could certainly result in an accident while the driver is out on the road. The same can be said for truck parts manufacturers if they use the wrong hardware or low grade parts. A proper investigation is needed to uncover all the possible avenues when it comes to liability for an auto accident.
Partial Responsibility for the Accident
It’s quite common for all parties involved in a truck accident to have some degree of fault for causing or contributing to the accident. In recognition of this fact, part of a truck accident investigation has to do with determining the percentage of fault for each driver / entity. So, if there are two parties that are involved, each side is designated a percentage of liability, ranging from 0 to 100%. Thus, even if you are partly to blame, you can still go ahead with a claim and obtain compensation, though the amount will be reduced by whatever percentage of fault you are assigned.
Negotiating with the Insurance Company
Settlement negotiations involve making offers and counteroffers on the amount of compensation that each side believes is appropriate. For National Interstate, their goal is to pay you as little as possible, while you are trying to obtain maximum payment for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other applicable damages. Keep in mind that negotiations can take months of back and forth exchanges, and there is quite a bit of wait time in between, as insurance companies have many claims they are working on at the same time. To ensure that you are getting the best deal, we recommend that you hire a truck accident attorney as soon as possible.
Litigating a Truck Accident Claim
The ideal situation is to work out a fair compensation amount with National Interstate, thereby avoiding any intervention from the court. However, exchanging offers can only go on for so long, as there is a deadline of 2 years from the accident date to file a personal injury lawsuit. Depending on how much time has gone by with little to no progress, it may be in your best interest to file a lawsuit. An attorney’s guidance is crucial once you reach the litigation phase, and it’s worth noting that most of these cases are eventually settled, so there is no need to ask for a trial date.
Is a Way to Settle my Case Faster?
Representation from a truck accident attorney is one of the most effective ways to settle your claim as fast as possible. It’s important to note that truck accident claims are very complex, and there is no shortcut to the finish line. The key is to avoid mistakes, errors, and miscommunications that can delay the legal process. This is where a lawyer can be of help, as they will handle each stage of an accident claim, including settlement negotiations and litigating your case (filing a lawsuit), if necessary.
Contact Our Law Firm
The personal injury lawyers of Normandie are ready to fight for your interests and secure maximum payment for the harm you suffered. We have decades of experience in truck accident insurance claims and lawsuits, and a proven track record of successful recovery on behalf of injury victims just like you.
At no point will we ask you for payment, since we operate under the Zero Fee Guarantee. You pay $0 when you hire us, and we wait until your settlement is recovered to obtain the cost of representing you. In the event we don’t bring you compensation from a claim against National Interstate Insurance, you pay us absolutely nothing.
We are available to assist you 24/7, so please reach out if you have questions or concerns about a truck accident injury claim.
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