How Long Does It Take to Settle a Truck Accident Claim with RLI Insurance?

On average, it takes somewhere around 6 to 24 months to settle a truck accident claim with RLI Insurance. Our estimate is based on decades of experience with commercial truck accident claims on behalf of California injury victims and their families.

Each case has different issues that ultimately determine the amount of time that’s needed to reach a settlement. That’s why there is no reliable method that can help us calculate the exact number of months or years it takes to obtain compensation for an auto accident. This is particularly true when the incident is caused by semis, tractor trailers, and other massive, commercial-use trucks.

At the end of the day, it’s impossible to predict the length of time it takes to settle an auto accident injury claim. However, cases involving truck accidents do take longer than the average car accident claim, as they involve large, commercial vehicles like tractor-trailers and semis. Aside from the time needed to investigate the accident, one cannot predict how RLI will react to a settlement offer. Are they willing to negotiate in good faith, or will they engage in stall tactics and other manipulative games in an effort to pressure you into a low settlement?

Factors that Impact the Settlement Timeline

We previously mentioned that truck accident cases often take longer to resolve that the average car accident injury claim. So, let’s examine the different variables that can prolong a truck accident settlement.

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Responsibility for the Accident

The foundation of any accident claim is liability, meaning one or more parties failed in their duty of care. Keep in mind that California is a comparative negligence state, so a percentage of blame is assigned to each individual or entity, but it’s very rare that both parties are equally at fault. Thus, one side is either entirely or mostly responsible when there is a car accident.

Before settlement negotiations can begin, there must be an investigation to determine:

• Did the truck driver follow all safety rules and regulations?
• Were there other entities aside from the truck driver that contributed or caused the incident? For example, a product defect with one of the parts is the reason that the driver lost control of the truck.
• Did the trucking company or another business that owned the truck failed to repair / maintain the vehicle?
• Was the owner of the truck in compliance with federal and state regulations?

There are many rules that apply to owning, operating, and maintaining a commercial truck. Truck drivers, for example, can only drive for so many consecutive hours before they are required to take a break. Additionally, there are rules for how long they need to rest before getting back on the road. Ultimately, a truck accident investigation is impacted by the need to verify many details concerning the driver’s actions.

Another common cause of accidents has to do with trucks that exceed weight and size regulations. Not complying with these rules makes the truck more difficult to maneuver, and this can easily result in a car accident.

Severity of the Accident and Resulting Injuries

Commercial trucks, by their very nature, have the potential to cause severe injuries and damage to other vehicles. In just about every accident, the other party is a smaller car, meaning they are the ones at a disadvantage if a truck collides into them or even taps them on the side.

The physical injuries and emotional trauma are bad enough, but there’s a good chance that your car is damaged beyond repair. A wrecked automobile adds another dimension of complexity when it comes to case values, and this is another part of the investigation that requires time and effort.

Policy Coverage Limits

Commercial grade trucks like tractors trailers must have insurance coverage that is compliant with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Based on the policy, there will be limits for personal injury and damage to someone else’s vehicle and other property. The coverage that needs to be obtained is based on numerous actors, like the truck’s weight and the type of cargo that’s being transported.

Medical Expenses

You must get treatment for your injuries right away – ideally, within 24 hours of being in a truck accident. In addition, avoid saying yes to any settlement offers from RLI Insurance until you have completed all your medical treatments. This is the only way to accurately determine how much you need in medical expenses, particularly if you end up with a disability or long-term health complications.

Projecting future or lifetime medical costs can be very difficult to accomplish on your own. We recommend that you contact a law firm that specializes in commercial truck accident claims. Aside from calculating your medical expenses, an experienced attorney can help you obtain other payments, like pain and suffering, damage to your vehicle, and value of lost wages.

Negotiating a Settlement

Finally, the amount of time to negotiate a settlement with RLI is a critical factor in how long a truck accident case will take to settle. Settlement negotiations can take several months or longer, as all offers must be in writing. Insurance companies can also take up to several weeks to provide a response to any demands or counteroffers, and there is nothing that can be done to speed up this process.

If the other side is negotiating in bad faith and there is no hope of agreeing on the numbers, taking your case to trial may be the only option. But court intervention is very rare, so it’s more than likely that we will settle your case through direct communications with the insurance company.

Contact Our Law Firm

Our legal experts are ready to speak with you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Our sole motivation is to provide you with skilled legal representation and secure the compensation you deserve by law. The truck accident attorneys of Normandie have a proven track record of truck accident settlements and trial verdicts, and we are more than ready to fight for you.

As one of our clients, you pay $0 for us to handle your case, and you will not pay a single penny if we fail to resolve the case in your favor. This is our promise to you under the Zero Fee Guarantee, which you are protected by starting from the very first consultation.

With nothing to lose, we hope you will take this opportunity to reach out and schedule a free case review if you were in an accident with a truck insured by RLI Insurance.