If you’ve been injured or lost a loved one in a tractor-trailer accident, several parties may be held responsible for your losses. The liable parties can include the following:

• The truck driver
• The truck company
• The owner of the truck
• The company leasing the truck or trailer
• The shipper who wanted the load transported
• The manufacturer of the truck, trailer, or parts

The financial fallout starts right after the accident and may last for years to come. This is why receiving a full and fair settlement is critical to you and your family’s long-term financial security. Without knowing the details of your accident, it is impossible to give you an accurate estimate of the value of your tractor-trailer injury claim. Generally, though, the value of your case relies on multiple factors, including:

• The cost of both past and future medical care
• Your lost wages
• Any lost earning capacity
• How your injuries affect your daily-life
• Your future prognosis
• Any changes in quality of life
• Pain and suffering

The time it takes to resolve a case depends on many factors; the most important are what happened in the wreck and what were the resulting injuries.

• Cases involving soft tissue injuries that get better with treatment from an orthopedic or chiropractic doctor and physical therapy can typically be negotiated and settled without filing a lawsuit and generally last six to nine months.
• Cases involving more substantial injuries, such as broken bones or surgical procedures, typically last nine to 15 months.
• Cases that involve more substantial and permanent, life-long injuries can last one to three years, depending on the circumstances. If we file a lawsuit instead of settling out of court, it may take an additional 16 to 24 months or longer before the case is resolved.

The answer really depends on whether you feel that the amount of money offered by the insurance company is enough to avoid the considerable hassle of going forward with litigation. Many people ask friends or family members who have had car wrecks how much they settled their cases for. In our experience, this is can be misleading because no two cases are the same.

At Henson Fuerst, when we have a “final” offer from the insurance company, we meet with you and explain all of your legal options. Typically, that means you can accept the final offer or reject the offer and file a lawsuit. It’s our job to explain the risks and benefits of each option so you can make the decision that best fits your personal situation.

Generally, before we file a lawsuit on your behalf, our North Carolina auto accident attorneys will attempt to negotiate with the insurance company to reach a settlement. In the majority of cases we handle, we do not begin negotiating your case until you have healed. This way, we are aware of all of the damages and losses related to your injuries and how those damages will affect your quality of life.

Our North Carolina auto accident lawyers recommend that you seek the help of a lawyer if:

• Your claim involves large injuries
• you had (or continue to have) substantial medical treatment (treatment that extends beyond more than a few visits to a doctor)
• You have suffered permanent injury that resulted in scarring, the need for surgery, or a permanent disability