Settlement Negotiations in Truck Accident Cases in Missouri

Trucks in a parking lot

Were you injured in a truck accident that someone else caused? You could be entitled to significant compensation, which you could recover in the form of an out-of-court settlement from the at-fault party’s insurer.

However, full and fair Missouri truck accident settlements are difficult to negotiate. That is why you need help from the experienced personal injury attorneys at Craig, Kelley & Faultless LLC to fight for the money you deserve at no upfront cost to you.

Contact us now for a free consultation to discuss how we can help you seek maximum compensation through settlement negotiations in your truck accident claim.

How Do Settlement Negotiations Work in Missouri Truck Accident Cases?

The first step in settlement negotiations is to hire an experienced attorney. Our Missouri truck accident lawyers can gather evidence to support your claim and identify who is at fault for the truck accident that harmed you.

Once we have determined whether the at-fault party is self-insured or has insurance coverage, our lawyers can send a demand for compensation to the at-fault party or their insurer.

At this point, you might receive a settlement offer from an insurance adjuster at the company that insures the at-fault party. Our lawyers can calculate the true value of your case and advise you on whether the offer is sufficient.

If the offer falls short, the next step is to make a counter-demand. The at-fault party or their insurer might then make a counteroffer. The process continues until you settle your case or negotiations break down, at which point it might be time to go to trial.

Truck accident settlement negotiations should not begin until you have sufficiently completed your medical treatment to know about the long-term implications of your injuries. If your injuries are not healed, you could face future medical bills for unexpected medical complications. You cannot reopen a settled claim to seek more money.

What Factors Affect the Value of a Truck Accident Settlement in Missouri?

The amount of semi-truck accident compensation you could obtain is based on the specifics of your case. For example, the following factors could influence your settlement value:

  • The severity of your injuries and the duration of your healing – Severe injuries are likely to require more time and resources to heal. Greater medical expenses and a longer healing time can increase the value of your truck accident settlement.
  • Your injury’s impact on your wages and your job – Your settlement should include money for the time you missed at work because of your injury and for any loss of future earning capacity if your injury resulted in permanent impairment.
  • The at-fault party’s insurance policy limits or assets – Whether the party that caused your accident is insured or is a trucking company that self-insures, the compensation you receive could be capped by the limits of their insurance policy or their assets. If multiple parties were at fault for the crash, you could have a better chance of securing all the compensation you deserve.
  • Missouri’s pure comparative fault law – If you were partly at fault for the accident, any compensation you receive can be reduced in proportion to your percentage of fault under Missouri’s comparative fault law. Insurance companies frequently use allegations of comparative fault in an effort to reduce settlement values in truck accident claims.
  • The skills of your attorney – You need a lawyer with experience in winning truck accident cases, such as the attorneys at Craig, Kelley & Faultless LLC. Our lawyers know which evidence makes the strongest case and how to secure evidence before it disappears.

What Evidence Is Most Important in Truck Accident Settlement Talks?

Evidence that clearly demonstrates who was responsible for causing a truck accident is most important, because the entire settlement stems from that determination. Such evidence could include:

  • The police report
  • Eyewitness statements
  • Digital evidence from traffic cameras, CCTV, or dash cams
  • The truck driver’s cell phone records
  • Black box data from the truck’s electronic data recorder
  • Maintenance logs from the trucking company
  • The trucking company’s personnel records for the truck driver
  • The trucking company’s hiring procedure

Once you have evidence establishing fault, the next most important evidence is that which shows the extent of your personal and financial losses from the accident. Such evidence could include your medical records, wage records, testimony from your family and friends about how the injury has affected your life, and your personal journal noting the struggles you face in your daily life after the accident.

How Long Do Truck Accident Settlement Negotiations Take in Missouri?

No one can accurately predict exactly how long truck accident insurance negotiations will take in your specific case. Whether your case resolves quickly or negotiations take quite a long time depends on numerous factors, such as:

  • A case where the at-fault party or insurer disputes liability will take longer than one in which fault is clear.
  • The availability of evidence can also affect the settlement timeline. If plenty of evidence shows what happened and outlines how your injuries changed your life, the insurance company may be more likely to settle.
  • A case with multiple liable parties can have a longer settlement timeline. Evidence will be required to prove that each party contributed to the crash. Additionally, negotiations can drag on as each party tries to shift more blame onto the others.

Should You Accept the First Settlement Offer After a Truck Accident?

No. Most initial settlement offers are much lower than the actual value of the truck accident victim’s case. Unfortunately, the first settlement offer probably does not cover all your losses, like pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, or future lost wages.

You need an experienced truck accident attorney to protect you throughout the negotiation process while seeking a fair settlement.

How a Lawyer Can Improve Your Truck Accident Settlement Outcome

The truck accident claim process in St. Louis is challenging for most injured people to handle on their own. When you hire an experienced lawyer from Craig, Kelley & Faultless LLC, you get someone who knows how to fight insurance company tactics aimed at minimizing your claim. We know every type of compensation you could be owed, and we know which evidence will support that argument. We want to maximize the compensation you receive.

The experienced truck accident lawyers of Craig, Kelley & Faultless LLC are prepared to take your case and manage all the legal and procedural details so you do not have to. When you work with us, all you have to do is focus on healing. We will handle the rest.

Contact our office today to set up your free consultation about your truck accident case.