While every case is different, trucking litigation follows a different timeline than a typical fender bender. Insurance policies for 18-wheelers often exceed $1 million, which means the insurance adjusters fight much harder to delay payment.
Why Does It Take Longer?
- Multiple Defendants: We may need to sue the driver, the trucking company, the broker, and the manufacturer.
- Electronic Evidence: Extracting and analyzing "Black Box" (ECM) data takes time and expert analysis.
- Medical Stability: We cannot settle until you have reached "Maximum Medical Improvement" (MMI) to ensure future costs are covered.
The 3 Phases of Delay
- Investigation (1-3 Months): Securing the vehicle, downloading data, and interviewing witnesses.
- Treatment & Negotiation (3-9 Months): Treating your injuries while we negotiate with the insurance carrier.
- Litigation (12-24 Months): If they refuse a fair offer, we file a lawsuit, which starts the court's clock.