Suffering injuries in a truck accident can be a harrowing experience, and the process of seeking compensation on your own can add to all the pain and suffering. One of the most common questions victims ask experienced Bronx, Queens and Brooklyn traffic accident attorneys is how long it will take to collect compensation. The best Queens accidents attorneys know there’s no simple answer because the timeline for resolving claims can vary based on several factors, and truck accident lawyers in NYC know that these tend to be the most complicated cases.
Step 1 – Investigation and Gathering Evidence
The initial process involves investigating the accident. In some cases, it may be as simple as police report that indicates that you were hit in the rear by a speeding truck. In other situations, there may be several defendants with conflicting stories about what caused the accident. When liability is not clear, the best Queens accidents attorneys conduct a thorough investigation. This includes collecting evidence such as accident reports, medical records, police reports, witness statements and any available video footage or photographs. In addition to evidence of what caused the accident, when serious injuries are claimed there can also be evidence presented to substantiate the injuries based on the damage to the vehicles and points of impact. The timeline can vary tremendously, from situations where the defendant’s insurance company immediately accepts 100% of fault to years of litigation, including depositions of all parties.
Step 2 – Medical Treatment and Evaluation
Before moving forward with a claim, it’s crucial to understand the full extent of injuries and the necessary medical treatment. This phase may involve ongoing medical evaluations, rehabilitation, and consultation with an expert. Serious injuries may require years of treatment before any projection about how full a recovery can be expected can be entertained at all. If the insurance carrier has policy limits that are clearly less than the expected compensation value, a claim can be settled very quickly. For example, a claimant that sustains a serious fracture that requires surgical repair and the insertion of pins, is worth more than New York’s minimum passenger car policy limit of 25/50, but trucks usually have much higher policy limits, so top truck accident lawyers in NYC will prosecute litigation in order to collect the highest possible amount of compensation.
Step 3 – Negotiations with Insurance Companies
When clients sustain minor injuries, cases can sometimes be resolved prior to start a lawsuit. This is because the value of these cases doesn’t justify the expense of prolonged indication, making this route less cost effective. That said, if the insurance company doesn’t make a reasonable offer to settle a smaller case, Brooklyn traffic accident attorneys will pursue the years of litigation necessary to get a worthwhile settlement for their clients.
Filing a Lawsuit
If a fair settlement cannot be reached through negotiations, filing a lawsuit in New York City will be necessary. The best truck accident attorneys in NYC, will aggressively prosecute lawsuits and try cases in front of juries in order to get the highest possible amount of compensation for severely injured clients.
Wittenstein & Wittenstein – Top Queens Accident Attorney
Based on the above criteria, it usually takes at least one year and up to five or six years to get a large settlement or verdict for a truck accident case in New York. These complicated cases require hiring a firm the experience that’s needed to maximize a case’s value. For over sixty years, injured people in Queens, Bronx, Manhattan, Staten Island, Brooklyn, Nassau and Suffolk counties have trusted Wittenstein & Wittenstein. Call 718-261-8114 for a free consultation.
