The duration of a truck accident lawsuit in South Carolina varies based on several factors, including the severity of your injuries, what medical treatment you require, and how many parties can be held responsible for the crash. Initial stages, including investigation and pre-trial proceedings, can take several months to a year. Trials may last from a few days to weeks. Many cases settle before trial, which can lead to a quicker resolution.
If you were injured in a truck crash, hiring an experienced South Carolina truck crash lawyer can help you navigate this journey efficiently and effectively. Our team is here to provide guidance, identify all responsible parties, and advocate on your behalf until a full, fair financial recovery is secured.
Factors that Determine How Long Your Truck Accident Lawsuit will Last
The timeline for a truck accident lawsuit in South Carolina can vary based on several key factors:
- Investigation: Initially, there is a thorough investigation into the accident to gather evidence, establish liability, and assess damages. This phase can take time, especially if there are complexities such as multiple parties involved or disputes over fault. Our team leaves no stone unturned when investigating crashes to help determine why the crash happened and who all can be held responsible for the harm you have experienced. We handle FOIA requests, look to see if there is any nearby traffic light or business with video camera footage, send letters of preservation to the trucking company to ensure the blackbox information is available, and hire accident reconstructionists if needed. All of this takes time, but it helps provide a full picture of what happened the day of your wreck.
- Medical Treatment: Truck crashes often cause catastrophic injuries that require extensive medical care that can last for many months, or even years. The duration of your medical treatment can greatly affect how long the legal process takes. Your attorney will often wait to begin the negotiation process until after you are done receiving treatment to ensure all damages are accounted for. Our team also works with life-care planners to put together a care plan that outlines the cost of future treatment so those damages are accounted for in your final result.
- Settlement Negotiations: Many truck accident cases in South Carolina are resolved through settlement negotiations before reaching trial. This can occur at any stage of the legal process, from initial investigations to just before trial. Settlements can expedite the resolution of the case and potentially save time and legal costs.
- Discovery Process: After the initial filings, there are pre-trial proceedings where both parties exchange information, conduct depositions, and possibly engage in mediation. During this phase, your legal team will build a strong case and begin preparing for trial to reach a fair resolution. If the insurance company or responsible party refuses to pay full, fair compensation through settlement, your lawyer will use the findings from the discovery process to take the case to trial.
- Trial Process: If the case proceeds to trial, the duration can vary widely. Factors such as the court's schedule, the complexity of the case, and the number of witnesses and evidence presented all influence how long a trial may last. Trials can range from a few days for straightforward cases to several weeks for more complex ones.
Your South Carolina injury attorney and legal team play a crucial role in how your legal case will move forward. Experienced attorneys can help streamline proceedings, negotiate effectively, and ensure that your interests are represented throughout the entire duration of the lawsuit. When you are researching which legal injury team to hire, make sure they are qualified to handle your case by reading online reviews, looking at past results, and talking with members of their team before moving forward.
Contact Our South Carolina Trucking Accident Legal Team Today
If you have any questions or have been in a truck crash, our team is here to guide you. Schedule a free consultation today by filling out the chat box below or calling (803) 790-2800 for our Columbia, SC location or (843) 427-2800 for our Myrtle Beach, SC office.
