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

Truck accident claims with Ace Group Insurance can take between 6 months to 1 or more years on average. If you have severe injuries that are likely to cause disability, it can take over 2 years to obtain adequate compensation from Ace Group, either by settlement negotiations or taking your case to trial.

When you have been injured in an accident, it’s understandable that you have questions about the length of time to reach a settlement. Realistically, there is no universal answer to this question, and many factors that we will go over throughout this article have an impact on the case resolution timeline.

The Claims Process for a Commercial Truck Accident

A truck accident can result in serious, debilitating injuries or death, and compensation is available to those who were harmed by another party’s negligence. Family members of deceased victims may be entitled to compensation as well in the form of wrongful death benefits.

The first step is to file a claim with the insurance provider, such as Ace Insurance Group. If you are unable to settle your case with the company, you may need to file a lawsuit against the driver, trucking company, product manufacturer, and anyone else that played a role in the accident.

Most truck accident cases are settled without the need for a court hearing. Essentially, both parties exchange offers until they agree to a sum of money that’s acceptable to the victim. Overall, it is very rare that a settlement cannot be achieved, meaning that both parties must prepare for a trial.

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What Factors Affect How Long It Takes to Settle a Truck Accident Case?

• First and foremost, your settlement timeline is affected by the severity of your injuries. The greater the injury and thus, the more extensive your medical treatments, the longer it will take to negotiate a settlement.
• Complex legal issues, proving manufacturer negligence (product liability) and needing to seek compensation from a government entity (Caltrans, for example).
• How many parties are involved, i.e., were there multiple vehicles / injury victims? Reaching a settlement that is agreeable to all the involved parties can be quite challenging.
• How much compensation you are seeking. The stakes are especially high in catastrophic injury and negligent death claims, and as a result, the liable entities may be less willing to negotiate. This can extend how long it will take to settle your case for a commercial truck accident.
• The availability and strength of evidence, such as accident reports, video footage, medical records, and witness statements. Cases with extensive and compelling evidence take more time to review, which can add to the process of reaching a settlement. Disputes over the validity of evidence from either side can also add to the length of time to settle your case.
• Even in clear-cut cases with irrefutable evidence, there is still a chance that Ace Insurance and other parties that share liability are unwilling to compromise. A trial may be necessary, and this will add significantly to the amount of time to resolve a truck accident lawsuit.

Steps to Reaching a Settlement with Ace Insurance Group

While the steps involved may differ slightly from one case to another, they generally involve the following:

• Filing an insurance claim, which may or may not progress into a lawsuit. To ensure that you have someone on your side right from the start, consider retaining a truck accident lawyer that specializes in claims with Ace Insurance Group.
• The investigation process, which includes collecting and reviewing evidence, ensuring that the driver was in compliance with FMSCA regulations, speaking with witnesses, etc.
• Determining all the parties that are responsible and assigning liability based on their percentage of fault for causing the accident.
• Exchanging offers and counteroffers in order to settle the case. It’s best to discuss all settlement offers with an attorney to ensure that you are getting a fair deal.
• Accepting a settlement offer from the insurance company after a thorough discussion with your attorney.
• Trying your case in court if necessary, meaning settlement negotiations are unfruitful and you are getting close to the statute of limitations to file a lawsuit.

How Long Does Each Stage of a Truck Accident Settlement Case Take?

How many weeks or months it can take to get through each stage of a truck accident case is different from one claimant to the next. But we can provide rough estimates based on decades of handling such cases on behalf of California truck accident victims:

Filing a claim or lawsuit

Though you can file a claim on your own, we strongly recommend that you find an attorney first. Truck accident cases are much more complicated than you may realize, as there are numerous parties that may be at fault. In addition, getting hold of evidence (camera footage, police reports, statements from witnesses, etc.) can be quite challenging on your own. A seasoned auto accident lawyer can help you with every aspect of your claim and ensure that it’s resolved in a timely manner.

Investigating the accident

Once your claim is filed, your lawyer will begin the investigation process. It can take several months to complete an investigation, especially if the accident was particularly complex or multiple individuals / entities are involved.

Collecting evidence

This is a crucial part of your attorney’s investigation, and in some cases, it can take up to several months to request and gather all the necessary evidence.

Negotiating with the other party

Once it’s determined that you have a solid case, your lawyer can start negotiating with Ace Insurance Group and others that are liable for your injuries.

Accepting or rejecting a settlement offer

After the insurance company offers a settlement, you and your lawyer will need to decide if the terms are acceptable. Discussions over a settlement offer can take days, weeks, or months, depending on how long it takes to review and respond to an offer / counteroffer.

Going to trial, if necessary

If all the parties cannot agree on the settlement amount, you and your attorney can choose to ask for a court date and prepare for a trial. Getting ready for a trial, presenting your case before a judge and jury can, and obtaining a verdict can take 2 or more years.

Ways to Speed Up a Truck Accident Settlement

Now that you have a sense of the variables that are involved, you are likely to have questions about what you can do to accelerate a truck accident case and obtain the damages you deserve. Here are some recommendations:

• Consult a lawyer with a proven track record of successful settlements and jury verdicts for truck accident victims and their families.
• Make sure to keep organized and detailed records of your medical bills, accident report, communications from the insurance company, proof of lost income, estimates on car repairs, etc.
• Go into settlement negotiations with an open mind and be willing to compromise in order to avoid a trial if at all possible.
• While it’s difficult, have patience and understand that the average truck accident insurance claim takes longer to settle than the average car accident case.

Contact a California Truck Accident Lawyer

At the end of the day, insurance companies are in it for themselves, just like any other business. That’s why you cannot count on Ace Insurance Group to do the right thing if you were injured in a commercial truck accident. However, you have the right to seek representation from an experienced attorney, which you will find 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at Normandie Law Firm.

We have a Zero Fee Guarantee, so please don’t worry about the cost of hiring us for an insurance claim or lawsuit. As part of your settlement, Ace Insurance will pay for all attorney’s fees, meaning there is no payment to us whatsoever unless you receive compensation. This ensures that you pay nothing upfront, and $0 out of pocket in the event we fail to win your case.

For a detailed explanation of your rights and legal options, contact our office and schedule a free case review.

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