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If you have grounds to file suit over injuries you sustained in a traffic accident with a commercial truck, you also have the right to continue pursuing that claim all the way into a civil court for a judge to render a verdict on if you wish to do so. That said, most claims like this end with private out-of-court settlements rather than civil trials, and that arrangement is generally beneficial for everyone involved in the case.
Of course, just because Philadelphia truck accident settlements are common does not mean that reaching a fair settlement agreement is easy, especially considering how vigorously trucking companies and their insurers often fight to avoid liability. If you want to get the best possible outcome from your settlement talks, you should seek help from a seasoned truck accident lawyer as early in the legal process as possible.
What Losses Should Be Factored into Truck Crash Settlement Talks?
One of the biggest obstacles people without legal representation face when trying to settle a truck accident claim in Philadelphia is not knowing what they should be demanding compensation for. Some compensable damages are obvious—like emergency medical bills and car repair/replacement costs—but others can be somewhat unintuitive to people who do not have extensive experience with civil litigation.
While this is by no means a comprehensive list, some examples of things that can be essential to incorporate into a settlement demand after a truck wreck include:
- Expected costs of future rehabilitative treatment and medical services
- Disability-related costs for things like assistive equipment and home/vehicle modifications
- Lost work income, benefits, and/or long-term earning capacity
- Physical pain and discomfort from injuries
- Psychological trauma from injuries and/or the accident itself
- Lost overall quality of life
Once retained, our skilled attorneys can help you identify every loss for which you should seek restitution and ensure that you are demanding a fair amount of money based on your unique circumstances and needs.
When to Accept a Truck Accident Settlement Offer
Another thing worth knowing about Philadelphia truck wreck settlements in advance is that insurance companies often offer an initial settlement much sooner than injured people expect. While this initial offer is not guaranteed to be unfair, it is usually an attempt by the insurance company to trick an injured person into accepting a settlement worth much less than their case’s actual value. Once an injured person formally accepts a settlement, they can rarely go back and ask for more money later if that original amount is insufficient.
With that in mind, it is generally best to wait several months after a serious truck accident before agreeing to any settlement offer so the full value of long-term losses stemming from the crash becomes as clear as possible. However, it is also important to keep the deadline set by the statute of limitations for Pennsylvania personal injury claims in mind. It typically gives injured people no more than two years to file suit after initially sustaining harm, and no one will offer a settlement to someone with no legal right to sue them.
Get Help from a Philadelphia Attorney With Pursuing a Truck Accident Settlement
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to filing suit over a tractor-trailer collision, and there certainly is not a single best way to settle this kind of lawsuit outside of court. However, what is consistent in virtually every scenario is that you will have far better chances of getting a positive case result if you have help from experienced legal counsel.
During a private initial consultation, a qualified lawyer at our firm can discuss your options for pursuing a Philadelphia truck accident settlement in more detail. Call today to schedule yours.
