Settling an 18-wheeler accident case in New Orleans, LA, can take anywhere from a few weeks to months or longer, depending on your case’s complexity. These accidents often involve severe damages, multiple parties, and insurance negotiations, which may all impact the timeline.
You may be entitled to substantial compensation after this type of crash, and Mansfield Melancon Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers can help you make the most of your claim. Contact our New Orleans 18-wheeler accident lawyers today or call us at (504) 294-3804 for a free consultation to learn more about your case and your legal options.
How Mansfield Melancon Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After an 18-Wheeler Accident in New Orleans, Louisiana
Our New Orleans truck accident lawyers are dedicated to helping victims fight for compensation after 18-wheeler accidents, with tens of millions of dollars recovered to date. Our personal injury team brings over 50 years of combined experience to every case to help victims in Louisiana recover rightful compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
If you or a loved one has been involved in an 18-wheeler accident, our team can handle all aspects of your case. This includes:
- Investigating the cause of your 18-wheeler accident in New Orleans
- Identifying all potentially liable parties
- Gathering evidence of negligence
- Retaining expert witnesses
- Valuing your damages for medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses
- Refuting allegations of comparative fault
- Negotiating 18-wheeler accident settlements for maximum compensation
- Filing truck accident lawsuits, if necessary
Schedule a free consultation today if you or a loved one has been in an accident involving an 18-wheeler in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Factors Influencing How Long It May Take To Settle Your New Orleans 18-Wheeler Accident Case
Several factors may influence how long it takes to settle an 18-wheeler accident case in New Orleans. Each accident is unique, but some common factors that may influence the settlement timeline include:
1. Severity of Your Injuries
The nature and extent of your injuries are often the most significant factor in how long your case will take to settle. Your doctors may need months or even years to fully evaluate your recovery if you suffered serious or catastrophic injuries. This may include traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, or broken bones.
2. Complexity of Your Case
Commercial truck accident cases often involve complex legal and factual questions. Multiple parties may be responsible for your injuries, including the truck driver, their employer, a third-party maintenance company, or even a defective truck part manufacturer.
Determining who is liable and to what extent can require significant investigation, which can add time to the process.
3. Time Spent Gathering Evidence
Thorough evidence collection is critical to building a strong 18-wheeler accident case. Valuable evidence must be preserved quickly, including black box data, GPS records, driver logs, maintenance records, and video footage. Gathering this evidence can take weeks or months, especially if a trucking company is uncooperative or slow to respond.
Your attorney may also need to consult with accident reconstruction experts, medical specialists, or economists to determine the full value of your claim. These expert opinions are typically necessary to support your case during negotiations or trial, but obtaining them takes time. The more comprehensive your evidence, the stronger your case typically is.
4. Negotiations
Negotiation is often the most time-consuming part of an accident case. Insurance companies are notorious for making lowball offers, hoping you will accept a quick payout. A New Orleans truck accident attorney may need to go through multiple rounds of back-and-forth negotiations to obtain a settlement that fairly compensates you for your injuries, medical expenses, and other losses.
5. Litigation
Your attorney may recommend filing a lawsuit if negotiations break down or the insurance company refuses to offer fair compensation. Once a lawsuit is filed, the timeline becomes subject to court scheduling, procedural rules, and discovery deadlines.
Litigation does not always mean the case will go to trial. Many cases settle during or after the discovery phase when both parties have more information about the strengths and weaknesses of the case. However, pursuing litigation adds time, costs, and complexity to your claim, though it may be necessary to obtain fair compensation for your injuries.
What Damages May I Recover for an 18-Wheeler Accident in New Orleans, LA?
You may be entitled to significant financial compensation for your losses if you were injured in an 18-wheeler accident in New Orleans. These are typically divided into economic and non-economic damages.
Common types of damages in an 18-wheeler accident case include:
- Medical expenses: Costs for emergency care, surgery, hospitalization, prescriptions, physical therapy, and long-term treatment
- Lost wages: Compensation for income lost due to time away from work during your recovery
- Loss of future earning capacity: Compensation if you cannot return to your previous employment or must take lower-paying work due to your injuries
- Property damage: Compensation to repair or replace your vehicle and other personal property
- Pain and suffering: Compensation for physical pain and the emotional distress caused by the accident
An experienced New Orleans truck accident lawyer can help you assess the full extent of your damages and pursue the maximum compensation available under Louisiana law.
Contact Our New Orleans 18-Wheeler Accident Attorneys Today
If you or someone you love was injured in an 18-wheeler accident, you do not need to wait to seek help. Our New Orleans truck accident attorneys have the experience and resources needed to pursue maximum compensation on your behalf. We understand the physical, emotional, and financial burden a truck accident can place on you and your family.
Contact us today for a free consultation to learn more about your options and how we can help you move forward.
