How Long Does It Take to Settle a Truck Accident Claim with Sentry Insurance?

Truck accident claims filed with Sentry Insurance can take between 6 and 12 months on average, though you must always keep in mind that this is an estimate. Many of the cases we handle involve serious, life-threatening injuries, totaled vehicles, and multiple entities that all played a role in the accident. Such complexities only add to the issues that need to be resolved, which is why18 to 24 months is a possible timeframe to settle a truck accident insurance claim. On the other hand, if the details of the case are relatively straightforward and liability can be squarely placed on the truck driver or trucking company, it may take 3 to 6 months for you to receive payment from an accident claim

Reasons for Why a Truck Accident Claim Takes So Long

We know that the timeline to settle a truck accident claim isn’t welcome news for accident victims and those who have lost family members to a truck accident. It’s true that compared to the average car accident case, resolving a commercial truck injury claim is a long and arduous process. In this article, we will go over some of the factors that can extend the amount of time to settle your case.

Our Most Recent Victories Against Sentry

Who is Liable for the Accident?

Assigning liability is the foundation of a personal injury claim, as you are trying to prove that one of more entities was negligent in their duty of care. Unfortunately, truck accidents take longer than normal to investigate, and that means it can take months before you can prove exactly who is responsible. By conducting an investigation, there are many issues that will be addressed, which include:

• If the truck driver failed to comply with any FMCSA regulations.

• If there were any violations of federal regulations for commercial trucks by the trucking company.

• If there is another driver (or more than one driver) who can be blamed for the accident.

• If proper maintenance and timely repairs were done on the vehicle.

• If the accident could have been caused by other entities, like a bartender that overserved alcohol, an auto mechanic, or a parts manufacturer.

It’s especially important to understand the federal statutes that have to do with owning and operating a commercial truck. Accident investigators must ensure that the incident was not due to legal violations by the driver, like being on the road for too many hours in a row. In many cases, drivers fail to rest for the required number of hours in between shifts, and this can also lead to a tragic accident.

The Damages Resulting from the Accident

The size, weight, and cargo that’s transported by a commercial truck has the potential to inflict severe, possibly fatal injuries, along with irreparable damage to one or more vehicles. The severity of the accident necessitates a more thorough and detailed investigation.

Available Insurance Coverage

As with any vehicle, tractors trailers and semis must be covered by insurance, and the policy limits are determined by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. The policy limits and the amount of compensation you are seeking can increase the number of weeks or months to negotiate a Sentry Insurance accident claim.

Your Medical Needs

How long it will take to recover from your injuries can certainly add to the amount of time that’s required to settle a commercial truck accident claim. Based on the type and severity of injury, the victim may never fully recover. But they must still explore all available options for treatment until MMI, or maximum medical improvement is achieved. This is the only way to know what your immediate and future medical needs are, which is critical to calculating your medical expenses.

Negotiation Talks with Sentry Insurance

Settlement negotiations can happen at any point during a claim, and in some cases, you may be approached with an offer by the insurance company within weeks of the accident. Obviously, saying yes is the quickest way to reach the finish line of a truck accident insurance claim. But this can have costly consequences in the future, when you find that the funds you received have run out much sooner than you expected.

Reaching a figure that all the involved parties can agree on may take several rounds of negotiations. In between these exchanges, there may be several weeks of downtime, so it’s not uncommon for months to go by before the negotiation stage reaches a conclusion.

Our Zero Fee Guarantee Program

We understand that the subject of how to pay for a truck accident injury lawyer is a primary concern for you and your loved ones. That’s why we are happy to offer the Zero Fee Guarantee from the very first time you meet with us. We agree to represent you on a contingency fee basis, and that way, you pay us $0 upfront. Once your settlement is released by the other party, a percentage of it will be used to cover the cost of representing you. If we fail to secure the compensation you deserve, we make absolutely nothing.

Please contact Normandie Law Firm today and talk to a lawyer that specializes in accident claims with Sentry Insurance.

Other Pages on Our Website Related to This Topic
Sentry Insurance Truck Accident Settlement Value