Factors Determining Your Truck Accident Settlement
Each truck accident is unique. The compensation you are entitled to recover depends on the facts of the accident and your losses. Here are some of the factors that determine the value of your truck accident claim:
The Extent of Your Injuries
The severity of your injuries is one of the primary factors in determining the compensation you are owed under the law. A truck accident with severe or disabling injuries, such as paralysis or traumatic brain injury (TBI), can change your life in a split second. Significant injuries cause extensive medical costs and require a long recovery time, potentially leading to considerable losses, such as lost wages, house modifications, and changes in lifestyle. The law allows injured victims to recover compensation for these losses. Trained truck accident attorneys fight to ensure these losses are valued fairly.
The Costs of Medical Treatment
When you or a loved one suffers severe injuries in a crash with a large, heavy commercial vehicle, you’ll likely incur considerable healthcare expenses. You should not suffer treatment costs when someone else caused your injuries.
If someone else, such as a trucking company or truck manufacturer, caused the accident, you are entitled to compensation for your medical expenses, both past and future. These expenses include:
- Specialist appointments
- Hospital stays
- Surgery
- Diagnostic testing
- Medications
- Medical devices (wheelchair, crutches, etc.)
- A home health aide
- Rehabilitation
- Modifying your home or vehicle to your new needs
- Ongoing medical care
Depending on the injuries suffered, past, current, and future medical and healthcare costs may be a significant portion of the ultimate recovery.
Lost Income
Truck accident victims with significant injuries will likely be off work for a long time, leading to considerable income loss. Some may never return to their careers or can only work in a reduced capacity due to permanent injuries. In addition to regular remuneration, individuals may lose out on bonuses, promotions, overtime pay, and benefits.
Therefore, if another is at fault for the truck accident, you could be entitled to recover payment for your past, present, and future lost income and benefits.
Non-Economic Damages
Truck accidents do not only lead to medical expenses and wage losses. They can be physically and emotionally painful and traumatic for those involved. Accident victims may suffer from chronic pain for years to come. Moreover, they may experience the ill effects of severe emotional trauma, such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Victims could receive compensation for the following and other non-economic damages:
- Physical pain
- Emotional trauma
- Loss of life-enjoyment
- Permanent disability
- Scarring and disfigurement
If you are suffering mental, emotional, and physical pain because of injuries suffered in a truck accident, you have a right to recover the non-economic damages associated with these losses to fairly compensate you for your harm.
Property Damage
Your car may have been significantly damaged or totaled in a truck collision. However, if another is at fault, you may qualify for the repair or replacement of your vehicle. You could also receive compensation for other property destroyed or damaged in the truck accident, including your phone, laptop, clothing, eyeglasses, and more.
Other Potential Damages
You may also qualify for other damages, such as punitive damages, depending on your unique truck accident facts. However, to fully understand your case, consult an experienced truck accident attorney who can assess the impact of your injuries on your home life and career.
The Ammons Law Firm can help you recover fair compensation after suffering a truck accident injury. We have a track record of success, with over 400 verdicts and settlements in excess of $1 million.
Liability Issues Can Impact a Truck Accident Settlement
Liability can be a crucial factor in a truck accident recovery. However, while state laws vary, even victims that have some responsibility for an accident could be entitled to damages. For example, according to Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code, Section 33.001, you may recover compensation even if you are partially responsible for the crash.
Truck accident claims with shared liability can be highly contested. The opposing side’s legal counsel may try to assign you a higher degree of fault to avoid a fair payout. A strong truck accident lawyer is critical for recovering the compensation you deserve. The experienced trial attorneys at the Ammons Law Firm know how to protect your best interests, negotiate effectively, and present your case powerfully to a judge and jury.
Available Insurance Coverage Can Determine Your Settlement Amount
Another critical factor determining your truck accident settlement is the at-fault party’s available insurance coverage. Most trucking companies, manufacturers, and drivers have extensive insurance coverage for third-party claims. However, if the at-fault party’s insurance coverage is inadequate or multiple victims seek compensation, the amount you can recover may be limited. When this happens, a skilled attorney can help evaluate other options for pursuing adequate compensation for your injuries and damages.
Since insurance issues can get highly complex in a truck accident claim with several defendants and victims, seek legal advice as soon as possible after your accident with an 18-wheeler to ensure you have the best chance of receiving adequate compensation.
The Ammons Law Firm Is Here for You
If you suffer life-altering injuries and need a fair recovery to manage your future, consider working with an experienced truck accident attorney. The Ammons Law Firm has a strong track record of helping truck accident victims recover maximum potential compensation. We have won record-setting verdicts and settlements for clients nationwide.
Let us take charge of your case and ease your burdens so you can concentrate on your recovery. Contact us now for a free and confidential consultation to determine your next best steps.
When you or a loved one dies in a truck accident and need help recovering compensation to cover medical expenses and your pain and suffering, we can help you.
