Any accident involving a motor vehicle can leave you or others with injuries. However, given how large and heavy semi-trucks can be, the aftermath of an accident involving a commercial truck can be particularly devastating. Even a minor collision with a semi-truck can cause significant damage to you, your vehicle, and others.

After a truck accident, it’s natural to wonder about the duration of potential legal proceedings against the liable party. While there’s no universal answer due to the unique nature of each case, below we dive into the typical duration for settling a semi-truck accident and the factors that could prolong the settlement.

What Happens When You Get Hit by a Semi-Truck?

When a semi-truck has hit you, you have most likely sustained some type of injury. Common types of injuries that can be caused by a truck accident include:

  • Cuts and lacerations
  • Spinal cord injuries
  • Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
  • Whiplash injuries
  • Broken bones and fractures
  • Scarring and burns

Injuries sustained from a semi-truck accident that was caused by the negligence of another are completely unexpected. With 117,300 large trucks being involved in crashes in 2021, the number of injuries sustained is on the rise. You may be left facing high medical costs, in addition to other short and long-term losses that may impact your life.

After you have been involved in a semi-truck accident, you will typically have grounds to seek compensation from the liable party. Following your accident, we recommend contacting a Columbus truck accident lawyer.

Here at The Friedmann Firm, we are dedicated to analyzing the details of your case and offer guidance on what next steps to take. Some cases may be able to reach a settlement out of court, while other cases may require us to file a lawsuit.

How Long Does It Take to Settle A Semi-Truck Accident?

After experiencing a semi-truck accident, many wonder about the duration of a potential legal resolution. Unfortunately, truck accident claims lack a standard duration due to their complexity and unique characteristics. While some may settle within a year, others could extend over several years. The timeline largely hinges on case-specific details, notably the nature and severity of injuries involved.

Factors That Delay Truck Accident Settlements

As with other types of legal settlements, there are a variety of factors that may delay a truck accident settlement. Some common factors that may delay a semi-truck accident settlement include:

  1. Severity of your injuries: Anyone who has been injured by a semi-truck accident is at high risk to suffer catastrophic injuries. A catastrophic injury is one that happens suddenly and can leave you with serious physical damage. Catastrophic injuries often result in permanent injuries where full recovery may not be possible. So, the more complex your injuries, the more complex your case becomes. Having a full understanding of your injuries and losses becomes crucial.
  1. Liability for the accident: Liability in a semi-truck accident may also impact how long it takes to reach a settlement. Determining liability in the case of an accident can be complex, especially as there may be more than one party who can be held liable. Parties like the trucking company, a parts manufacturer, the truck driver, or even the shipping company may be considered liable.
  1. The investigation process: The complexity of semi-truck accidents necessitates a meticulous investigation by both your Columbus truck accident attorney and involved parties like trucking firms. An investigation will entail looking over the details of the accident, including police and medical reports, eyewitness testimonies, and photos and videos.

The aforementioned factors, among others, substantially influence your case’s settlement duration.

Consult with a Columbus Truck Accident Lawyer

A semi-truck accident can leave you facing very unexpected and serious injuries that can have a lasting impact on your life. In certain cases, you may have grounds to pursue a personal injury claim against the responsible party – who may range from the commercial truck driver themselves to a third party.

Navigating the aftermath of a truck accident can be daunting, particularly when faced with a lengthy legal process ahead of you. That is why we are here to help. The Friedmann Firm team has experienced Columbus truck accident lawyers available who can educate you on your rights and explain what next steps you may be able to take in regard to your situation.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a semi-truck accident, contact our law firm today to schedule a consultation. Our Columbus truck accident lawyers handle cases of all sizes and are here to help ensure that you receive fair compensation for your injuries. You can connect with us over the phone at 614-610-9755 or online to schedule a free, confidential consultation.