Following a truck accident, you can expect there to be moderate to steep resistance when you want to file an injury claim. Trucking companies know that they could owe you six or seven figures if your injuries are severe and life-changing, so they will want to fight you at every step along the way. It is possible that your case could be headed for litigation.
Does that mean you should think about settling your truck accident claim, though?
Deciding When to Settle a Truck Accident Claim
Settling an injury claim sounds like a great situation on paper, and, oftentimes, it is beneficial for all parties in reality, too. But settling is not something you should assume should always be done. It is not always possible to get a fair amount of compensation through a settlement, and not all defendants will want to offer even an initial, lowball settlement amount.
Instead, you should see settling your truck accident claim as just one of a few options to discuss with your personal injury attorney. Using their experience and insight, they can help you navigate settlement negotiations, including how to prepare for mediation or arbitration. Many truck accident lawyers will often approach a claim with hopes that it will settle, but without forgetting that it might not, so they should be taking steps to prepare for litigation from the beginning of your claim.
Benefits of Settling Your Truck Accident Claim
Why might your truck accident attorney suggest settling your claim?
- Reaching a settlement through mediation or arbitration can often be completed sooner than if you had to wait for litigation to reach an end. When working on a settlement, all parties can choose what dates and times to meet, whereas litigation works on the court’s schedule. This difference alone could shave months off a case’s timeline.
- Settlement negotiations with an insurance company representing a trucking company can also keep more power on your side, rather than depending on the court to make the fairest decisions. Your attorney could negotiate better terms for your settlement offer than a court would ever think to assign.
- Technically, a trucking company that settles a claim never needs to admit to any wrongdoing since settlements are not fault-based. This approach to ending a case helps keep parties from getting defensive, which encourages cooperative negotiations that could yield better results for everyone.
- Oftentimes, defendants will at least consider settling a claim because it can prove less expensive for them than going to court. If the defending trucking company seems hesitant to go to court due to costs or the lack of confidentiality, then your attorney might even be able to leverage their reluctance to get them to offer a better settlement than before.
Former Insurance Defense Lawyer on Your Side
Attorney Todd Miner is a former, decorated insurance defense lawyer. Today, he brings everything he learned on their side to the cases he handles for his clients, including truck accident claims. If you need help understanding how to manage your claim and if a settlement offer is fair, then you can count on our team. From our office in Orlando, we help clients in the surrounding regions. Call 407-214-4743 today to learn more.
