The amount of time it takes to settle a truck accident claim with National Truck Underwriting Managers, Inc. can be anywhere from just a few months to 3 or more years. If we had to narrow things down further, we would estimate that most cases take between 6 to 18 months from start to finish.
We know that there is a wide disparity between these increments of time. However, there is no way to truly narrow down how long it takes to settle a truck accident insurance claim. Ultimately, there are too many variables that are unique to each and every accident, so the timeline for a resolution can be quite different from one case to the next.
One thing we want to caution you about is accepting a settlement offer too soon. It’s not uncommon for National Truck Underwriting Managers, Inc. to offer a sum of money shortly after the accident and urge you to accept so that you can move on with your life. But agreeing to an insurance company’s initial offer is usually a bad idea, as the company’s primary goal is to pay you the lowest possible amount. To ensure that you are getting a fair deal, make sure to consult a truck accident injury lawyer.
Why is My Case Taking So Long to Settle?
In order to answer this question, there are numerous factors that we must consider. For one thing, all cases of accidents involving commercial trucks require an extensive investigation according to FMCSA procedures. This agency, officially known as the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, has specific regulations for those who own, operate, and work with commercial trucks, such as tractors trailers and semis.
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Investigating a Truck Accident
It’s important to understand that a commercial truck accident is investigated differently than a passenger vehicle incident. The investigation is necessary to determine who is responsible for the accident, though liability can be shared between multiple individuals and entities.
To give you a sense of what an accident investigator is looking for, here are some of the issues that must be addressed:
- Did the truck driver breach their duty of care by not following FMCSA protocols?
- Did the employer (trucking company) fail to exercise reasonable care during the hiring or training of the driver?
- What was the condition of the vehicle at the time of the accident, i.e., was it properly maintained?
- Were there any third parties, like a negligent parts manufacturer, that can be blamed?
In the vast majority of cases, it’s the driver and/or the company that is at fault. For example, the driver may have violated FMCSA regulations on how many hours in a row they can be on the road or failed to take the proper amount of rest in between drives.
The Devastation Caused by the Accident
The size and weight of a commercial truck, along with the cargo on board, can inflict serious harm and suffering in the event of an accident. As a result, victims are left with extensive physical and emotional injuries, not to mention financial hardships from medical bills and lost time from work. We also have to consider how badly their vehicle is damaged, since it’s more than likely that the car is totaled.
As a general rule, case timelines will increase in proportion to the severity of physical injuries. If the victim is disabled or ends up with permanent health complications, settling a truck accident claim will probably take between 1 and 3 years. This timeframe is applicable to wrongful death claims as well, meaning that the victim died from their injuries.
Coverage Limits under the Insurance Policy
Commercial trucks must have a certain amount of coverage in the event they get into an accident that results in property damage or bodily injury. Coverage rates are based on FMCSA regulations, and this information will help you determine the maximum amount that can be recovered from the insurance company, and if claims against other entities are needed to obtain additional compensation.
How Long It Take to Complete Your Medical Treatments
The recovery after a truck accident can take months of surgery, physical therapy, doctor’s visits, diagnostic testing, and other medical treatments. National Truck Underwriting Managers will try and settle your case during this time, and you may feel pressured to say yes, but please understand that doing so it likely to backfire in the long run. Until you have completed all the available treatments and achieved as much recovery as possible, you cannot evaluate the totality of your medical expenses, which is the most significant portion of an accident settlement.
Exchanging Settlement Offers
How long it will take for you and the insurance company to agree on a settlement amount is something we can’t predict ahead of time. Frankly, the negotiation process does not move quickly in most of these cases, and there is a lot of time that goes by in between communications and settlement proposals. Based on how many offers are exchanged, several months can go by before a compensation amount is agreeable to both sides. Sometimes, the negotiation stage can take 1 or more years, which is quite common when the victim is seeking 6 to 7 figures in damages.
Contact Our Law Firm
Those who were injured by someone else’s negligence need advice regarding their rights and legal options. Normandie Law Firm is here for you 24/7, and we are more than ready to fight for the compensation you deserve.
Our law firm operates under the Zero Fee Guarantee, so you pay nothing upfront if you would like us to represent you in a claim against National Truck Underwriting Managers, Inc. Legal fees are covered by the insurance company as a part of your settlement, so in other words, we don’t make a cent unless you do.
Please contact us today and speak with a California truck accident lawyer during a free case evaluation.
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