An accident involving a commercial truck in Washington may take anywhere from a few months up to a few years to resolve. It really depends on the complexity of the case. There are likely to be many parties involved nd claims made against each party – the truck driver, truck owner, freight shipper, and others are all potential defendants in any lawsuit filed as a resut of a crash invovling a comercial truck.
The good news, however, is that most lawsuits involving large trucks are settled long before they go to trial. The facts of the case should provide strong indications as to who was at fault, and if the freight / trucking company bears some responsibility, they typically resolve a case rather than face a risky and costly jury trial.
If you have been injured in an accident with a commercial truck, then you should discuss your case with the highly experienced truck accident lawyers at the Gilbert Law Firm in Spokane, Washington.
Statute of Limitations for Truck Accidents in Washington
Washington state law imposes strict limits on how an injured party has ot file a lawsuit against another party following the crash. but the details depend on the situation of the crash. The statute of limitations in Washington regarding car accidents is three years. There are some exceptions to this rule which you should discuss with a lawyer.
Three years may seem like a long time to file a lawsuit, but you may be surprised how often people miss this deadline. If you are seriously injured, you may be prioritizing your recovery.
Furthermore, many people merely file an insurance claim and forget that a lawsuit is on a completely different track; allow yourself plenty of time to hear back from insurers and hire a lawyer if you don’t like their answer.
Finally, it may take some time to collect enough evidence to build a strong case against the truck operators. You may need to investigate the circumstances around the accident including requesting police reports or black box recordings from the truck itself. Your truck accident attorney can do much of this on your behalf, but you may need to gather some preliminary information to convince a lawyer to take on your case.
Timeline for Filing a Truck Accident Lawsuit in Washington
You should immediately notify the police if you have been involved in an accident with a large truck so that medical care can be provided to the injured and that they can warn motorists of the traffic situation.
If police are unable to visit the scene of the accident, you must file a written report with the local police within four days.
It’s important to seek medical care at this time, even if you feel okay immediately after the accident. Some injuries do not reveal themselves until hours or even days later.
You should probably consider hiring an experienced Washington truck accident attorney at this time, as well. They can help you if you wish to file a claim against the other party’s insurance – which you should do within a few days or weeks of the accident.
The insurer should notify you of their offer within a reasonable amount of time. If you reject their offer, then your personal injury attorney can help you with the lawsuit and manage your case.
The Gilbert Law Firm Is Here for You
The Gilbert Law Firm has decades of combined experience negotiating with trucking companies and their insurers; they know how to respond appropriately to any potential underhanded tricks and will strive to get you the best offer possible. Contact the Gilbert Law Firm today for a consultation.
Disclaimer: The blog published by the Gilbert Law Firm marketing team for informational purposes only and is not considered legal advice or a substitute for legal advice. There is no attorney-client relationship between the reader and the blog publisher. Readers are urged to consult their own legal counsel on any specific legal questions concerning a specific situation.
