How Long Could My Truck Accident Case Take to Settle or Resolve?

You’ve been in a trucking crash, and the damage is extensive. The injuries are serious, and now you’re facing medical bills, missed work, and legal issues alongside a mountain of questions. One of the biggest being, “How long does it take to settle a truck accident case?”

The honest answer? It depends.

Some cases resolve in less than a month, while others stretch into years, especially if liability is disputed or your injuries require long-term medical care. However, clear factors affect the pace of a settlement, and understanding these factors can help you make informed decisions. Avoid rushing into a lowball offer just to be done with it.

If you’re wondering what your truck accident settlement timeline may look like, here’s what you need to know.

What factors influence how long it takes to settle a truck accident case

Every truck accident case differs, but most follow the same general steps: investigation, documentation, negotiation, and (if needed) litigation. What can slow the process?

• The severity of your injuries (like traumatic brain injuries)
• How long does it take to reach maximum medical improvement (MMI)
• Disputes over liability
• The number of parties involved (trucking company, driver, insurer, etc.)
• Whether your case goes to trial

According to the Insurance Information Institute, commercial truck crashes accounted for over 5,800 fatalities in 2021, with tens of thousands more resulting in serious injuries. With that level of impact, it’s no surprise that the cases take time and often involve more complexity than standard car accidents.

Truck accidents are different—Here’s why that matters for your timeline

Truck accidents aren’t just bigger in scale; they’re bigger in every way. More damage. More injuries. More people involved. More legal layers, more investigations.

Unlike a car crash between two drivers, a truck accident may involve:

• The truck driver
• The trucking company
• The truck owner (if leased)
• Cargo loaders or third-party logistics providers
• Insurance companies for each party
• Potential vehicle manufacturers (if faulty parts are involved)

Each of these entities could bear partial responsibility, which means finger pointing, longer investigations and more complex negotiations before anyone agrees to settle. If you’re wondering why your truck accident lawsuit process is moving slowly, this is possibly why.

When fast isn’t fair: The risk of accepting a quick settlement

It may be tempting to take the first settlement offer you receive, especially when medical bills pile up and you’re out of work. But be careful.

Insurance companies know you’re vulnerable after a crash and often offer quick settlements for far less than you deserve. Accepting that offer may mean waiving your right to pursue future compensation, even if complications arise later.

Keep in mind the insurance companies handle injury claims for a living day in and day out. They know more than you what your case is worth. And they want to offer you a quick low settlement before you hire a lawyer and learn the true value of your claim.

And they often do. Settlements should reflect your total damages, not just your current expenses. That includes ongoing treatment, long-term care, loss of earning capacity, and pain and suffering.

Investigation and liability disputes can delay a truck accident claim

When a truck accident happens, the drivers and witnesses may be the only ones who know how it actually took place. Figuring out who’s at fault isn’t straightforward, so investigators have to look into crash reports, police statements, driver records, and vehicle damage, all of which takes time.

In the meantime, insurance companies may be butting heads over liability. Was the truck driver going too fast down the highway? Did the trucking company fail to secure part of the vehicle before the driver took it on the road? Did the driver of the other car fail to yield? Until someone is deemed responsible, claims may be stuck in legal limbo.

Are multiple people involved? Expect the progress to drag even longer. The more complicated the accident (think multi-car pile-up), the longer claims take to resolve.

How medical treatment affects the truck accident settlement process

Imagine you get a broken bone in a truck accident. The doctors need time to assess how bad your injuries are and what kind of treatment you need. Maybe you need a cast, surgery, or physical therapy to help you heal and recover. This costs money, but insurance companies often won’t pay until they know the total bill (other than some possible Personal Injury Protection (PIP) payments under Florida’s no-fault law).

If your injuries are severe, it can take a long time to determine how much medical care you need. The longer your medical treatment takes, the longer it takes to settle your claim and get the money you deserve from the accident. That’s why these cases can take a while.

What happens if your truck accident case goes to court?

If a truck accident case goes to court, things get more complicated. Instead of settling with insurance companies, both sides present evidence to a judge and jury. Truck accident lawyers argue over who caused the crash, using photographs, witness testimonies, and expert statements.

Going the lawsuit route takes time. There are hearings, depositions, mediations and legal motions. A judge or jury determines who’s at fault and how much one side owes the other. If both sides can’t agree, the cases stretch on for months.

Court cases mean higher legal costs, longer wait times, and more uncertainty about the outcome.

How a truck accident lawyer can help you resolve your case efficiently

By handling your legalities, a truck accident lawyer can make the claims process faster and smoother. Here’s how they can help:

• Investigating the crash. They gather evidence, like police reports, expert opinions, and witness statements, to build a stronger case.
• Negotiation with insurers. Insurance companies are notorious for trying to pay less than victims deserve. A lawyer will push for fair compensation.
• Handling paperwork. Legal claims involve tons of documents. Your lawyer ensures everything is organized, filed correctly, and on time.
• Representing you in court. If negotiations fail, they fight for you in the courtroom.

With a lawyer, you avoid mistakes and delays, increasing the chances of a fair payout after a truck accident.

The bottom line is if you are a victim of a serious trucking crash, and the damages are serious, the sooner a lawsuit is filed on your behalf, the greater likelihood of obtaining a full and fair recovery. The insurance companies for trucking crashes have investigators on standby and they come to the crash often faster than the police. The reason for their aggressive handling of trucking crashes is because the damages are often in the millions of dollars. If they can find some way to avoid paying you, they will.

After handling hundreds of trucking crashes, I assure you when the damages are big, the defense will do anything they can to delay paying you, they will do anything they can to deny paying you, and they will defend the case intensely. But don’t worry, when you hire MattLaw, your only task is to focus on following your doctor’s advice and try your best to regain your health, and let us handle the rest.

If you’ve been in a truck accident, don’t wait. Contact MattLaw now for expert legal guidance and dedicated representation. Let us fight for the compensation you deserve while you focus on healing.