DC Truck Accident Settlement Process

The DC truck accident settlement process starts with negotiating the settlement. Once both parties have come to an agreement on the settlement, the defendant will send the plaintiff a check for their losses. If you have been injured in a truck collision, reach out to a seasoned attorney who could walk you through the truck accident settlement process and fight for you to ensure that you are getting a fair offer.

Calculating Settlement Value

Following a personal injury, an individual may be able to collect economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages include medical bills, lost wages, and any other out-of-pocket expenses the injured person may have. Non-economic damages include pain and suffering, emotional anguish, and the loss of enjoyment of activities.

Based on these two factors, the insurance company will attempt to calculate the total settlement value. Unfortunately, the insurance company does not have the plaintiff’s best interests in mind and, therefore, may offer a low settlement figure. This is why it is important for an injured individual to contact a well-established DC truck accident lawyer. An accomplished attorney has experience with the DC truck accident settlement process and could help calculate a fair and reasonable settlement for a plaintiff.

Contributory Negligence

DC is one of the few places in the nation that practices pure contributory negligence. This means that if an injured individual is even one percent at fault for the accident, then they are barred from recovery. Therefore, it is imperative that an injured individual obtains the services of a skilled lawyer who could work tirelessly to build a case that assigns fault solely on the defendant.

General Length it Takes to Receive a Settlement

The general length of time it takes for a plaintiff to receive the settlement depends on the case. From the date of an accident, an individual has three years to file a lawsuit. Once the lawsuit gets filed, it takes about 12-18 months for a case to resolve, either by settlement or trial. On average, it takes two to four years from the date of the accident for a person to receive their settlement offer.

However, the DC truck accident settlement process could be expedited if the case does not have to proceed to litigation. Sometimes a case is settled as soon as the individual files a lawsuit. Other times, the case does not settle until the day before trial.

Accepting the Offer Consideration

One of the ways a person’s settlement could be delayed is if the individual does not believe the settlement offer is enough money. When considering a settlement offer, the injured individual should take into account whether they need the money sooner in order to pay for some expenses. Also, there are always risks when it comes to dragging out a settlement. If the case ends up going to trial, then the person could risk receiving no money. Accepting a settlement offer or not is always the plaintiff’s decision. An attorney is there to offer advice and keep the best interests of the individual in mind.

How Obtaining a DC Truck Accident Attorney Could be Beneficial

A truck collision lawyer could be very beneficial to someone who has been injured in a wreck because they have experience with the DC truck accident settlement process. This means the attorney knows how to negotiate with the defendant and the insurance companies in order to maximize the recovery for the plaintiff. If you have been injured in a truck accident, reach out to a seasoned lawyer today.

 

DC Truck Accident Settlements