If you’ve been injured in a truck accident in San Diego, CA, you may be wondering how long it will take to settle your case and recover the compensation you need. Unfortunately, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Every case is unique, with the timeline depending on the severity of your injuries and other factors.
At Pines Salomon Personal Injury Lawyers, our award-winning legal team has decades of experience handling complex truck accident claims throughout California. We’ve successfully recovered over $100 million for personal injury victims. We’ll fight to get you the best possible results—without unnecessary delay.
Contact us today at (858) 551-2090 for a free consultation with a trusted San Diego truck accident attorney.
Why Choose Pines Salomon to Handle My Truck Accident Case in San Diego?
When you’re up against a powerful trucking company or insurer, you need an experienced law firm that knows how to win. At Pines Salomon, we’ve built our reputation on providing top-rated client service and getting life-changing results.
Here’s why clients throughout San Diego, California, trust us with their most serious cases:
- Our team has secured life-changing recoveries in cases involving trucks and commercial vehicles.
- Our San Diego personal injury lawyers have been recognized by America’s Top 100 Personal Injury Attorneys, Martindale-Hubbell, and Super Lawyers.
- You’re never treated like just another case number. We provide hands-on attention and direct communication at every stage of the process.
Our goal is always to secure maximum compensation for you as efficiently as possible. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation with an experienced San Diego truck accident attorney.
Typical Timelines for Truck Accident Settlements in San Diego
Truck accident cases often involve multiple liable parties, including the driver, trucking company, cargo loader, and parts manufacturer. They often require extensive investigation. That means timelines can vary considerably.
Here’s a general overview of how long it might take for different types of cases to settle:
- Minor Truck Accidents: If the injuries are relatively minor and liability is clear, settlements can sometimes be reached in as little as 6–8 weeks.
- Moderate to Serious Injury Cases: If you’re still undergoing medical treatment or there are disputes over fault, your case may take 12–18 months to resolve.
- Catastrophic Injury or Wrongful Death Claims: In cases involving permanent disability, extensive medical care, or death, the process can take multiple years, especially if expert testimony or litigation becomes necessary.
While it’s natural to want closure quickly, accepting a rushed settlement could mean forfeiting compensation for long-term medical care or lost earning capacity. Our attorneys will help you strike the right balance between timeliness and full recovery.
Maximum Medical Improvement and Your Settlement
One of the key milestones in any personal injury claim is reaching maximum medical improvement (MMI), the point at which your condition has stabilized and further recovery is unlikely.
Your attorney will typically wait until you reach MMI before negotiating a settlement, because only then can your future medical needs and permanent limitations be accurately calculated.
Settling too early could mean paying for complications or ongoing care out of pocket later.
At Pines Salomon, we work closely with medical professionals to ensure your current and future treatment costs are fully accounted for before finalizing any settlement.
The Stages of a San Diego Truck Accident Case
Every 18-wheeler accident case follows a general series of steps. Each stage plays an important role in determining how long your claim might take to resolve:
- Medical treatment and recovery: You will focus on treatment and recovery while your attorney begins gathering evidence.
- Investigation: Your attorney will obtain police reports, driver logs, black box data, witness statements, and medical records. For complex crashes, we may collaborate with accident reconstruction experts or engineers to determine the exact cause of the incident. This stage can take weeks or months, depending on the availability of records and witnesses.
- Demand package: Once you’ve reached MMI, we’ll prepare a comprehensive demand letter detailing your injuries, medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. This document is sent to the trucking company’s insurer to begin settlement negotiations.
- Negotiations: These may last anywhere from a few weeks to several months, depending on the extent of the parties’ valuation differences.
- Filing a lawsuit (if necessary): Most cases still settle before trial, but the litigation process (including discovery and depositions) adds time.
- Settlement and payment: Once a settlement is finalized, insurers typically issue payment within two to four weeks. Your attorney will pay outstanding medical liens and legal costs before disbursing your recovery.
Each of these stages can influence the total duration of your case. Your attorney will help move your case forward more efficiently while preserving its full value.
Contact a San Diego Truck Accident Lawyer Today for a Free Case Review
If you or a loved one were injured in an 18-wheeler accident in San Diego, you deserve justice. The experienced trial lawyers at Pines Salomon can help you hold negligent drivers and trucking companies accountable for their actions.
We’ll fight for the maximum compensation you deserve for your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and future needs. Call today to schedule your free consultation with a San Diego truck accident lawyer.
