If you suffered injuries and property damages in a truck accident, an insurance claim or lawsuit could pay your medical bills and repair or replace your car while helping to sustain you during your recovery period. You may know that a law firm can help you hold the trucking company accountable but wonder what the average settlement for a semi-truck accident may be.
There is nothing average about a semi-truck accident. Each accident is different, and what you can recover depends upon the circumstances of that accident. Contact a personal injury lawyer familiar with semi-truck accidents to help you receive proper compensation.
Hiring an Experienced Semi-Truck Accident Attorney
The need for an experienced legal team stems from what could be a complicated case. Experienced attorneys have the knowledge and experience to file your personal injury claim and, if needed, represent you in court.
There is no way to calculate an average truck accident settlement. The case facts and outcomes of collisions involving commercial trucks differ too widely. Many trucking accidents cause severe injuries, but the costs of treating and living with traumatic brain injuries are much different than those related to broken bones or even neck injuries. This is why you should consider meeting with a personal injury attorney to help determine the possible settlement value of your case.
Get a Free Initial Consultation
Before a lawyer accepts your case, they want to evaluate the facts. Most trucking accident law firms offer a free consultation to potential clients. Be ready to share any evidence you have, including:
- The date, time, and location of the accident
- The name of the truck driver and information about their employer
- Your written or verbal recollection of the accident
- A copy of the police report if you have one
- Any information about the applicable insurance policies
- The name and numbers of witnesses
- The name and contact information of your doctor
- Copies of your medical records and bills resulting from the accident
If the attorney confirms the validity of your case, and you agree to hire them, your legal team will work to thoroughly investigate your accident. The results of that investigation will determine and prove fault to aid in getting you the proper compensation.
Dealing with Insurance Companies
In addition, let your lawyer handle the insurance companies. If someone from the responsible parties’ insurance company contacts you directly, refrain from talking with them. Tell them to contact your attorney. This is essential to your case because any statement made could cost you thousands of dollars. The at-fault parties’ liability insurance provider could purposefully use your words against you to reduce the value of your semi-truck accident settlement.
Insurance company representatives are notorious for trying to get you to agree to a settlement much lower than you need and can receive. Don’t take the bait. Let your lawyer deal with them. An experienced truck accident lawyer will know how to hold the negligent parties responsible and pursue a fair truck accident settlement amount.
For a free legal consultation, call (800) 537-8185
The Cost of Your Injuries
If you had no responsibility for your auto accident, you should be able to receive compensation for all your medical bills. Depending upon your injuries, it could take years for you to recover physically, if ever. Some expenses you can expect to receive compensation for include:
- Emergency department services
- Emergency transportation
- Laboratory tests, x-rays, MRIs
- Hospitalization
- Surgery
- In-facility rehabilitation
- In-home health care
- Outpatient physical therapy and rehabilitation
- Follow-up doctor visits
Other types of damages you can recover include:
- Lost wages
- Future loss of income
- Retraining for a new career if you cannot return to your old job
- Repairs or replacement of your vehicle
Beyond these reimbursable types of damages, you can look for compensation for damages that do not have a price tag, known as non-economic damages. Your accident attorney will consult former cases to aid in applying a figurative amount for damages such as:
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Loss of quality of life
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional anguish and psychological issues
- Loss of companionship
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Other emotional trauma
Who Can Be Held Accountable?
Unlike a two-car accident when the responsible driver may be the only one accountable, in a semi-truck accident, you can look to more than just the driver for compensation. The driver’s employer, often a trucking company or other corporate owner of commercial vehicles, is almost always vicariously liable in a semi-truck accident case. Attorneys often file their truck accident claims against these companies’ liability insurance providers.
In addition, your lawyer will be looking for information regarding:
- Who performed regular maintenance of the truck?
- When was the last routine maintenance done?
- Were there previous performance issues with the truck?
- Who was responsible for loading the cargo?
- Was the driver working overtime?
These issues and others could lead to partial responsibility of other parties, including the company whose cargo they were hauling or the truck’s maintenance crew.
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What If You Lost a Family Member in a Semi-Truck Accident?
If a member of your immediate family—a spouse, parent, or child—died in a semi-truck accident, you have rights. A family member can file a wrongful death claim, or in some cases, the trustee of the decedent’s will may need to file.
In most states, the immediate family members can seek compensation such as:
- Final medical expenses of the decedent
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Conscious pain and suffering of the truck accident victim
- Loss of financial support
- Loss of household services
- Loss of emotional support
- Loss of companionship
A wrongful death case can be complicated. Your lost loved one no longer has a voice. You need the help of an attorney well-versed in truck accidents and wrongful death cases.
There Are Time Limits for Filing Your Personal Injury Lawsuit
There are different time frames for filing a semi-truck accident lawsuit. In Arkansas, for example, you have up to three years following an accident to file. However, in Louisiana, you only have one year.
There are a few exceptions to your state’s statute of limitations. A local personal injury lawyer who is familiar with state laws and its judicial system will understand such exceptions and assure that your paperwork is filed within the appropriate time limits.
How Long Can a Settlement Take?
Once the paperwork is filed, negotiating a settlement can be a long, drawn-out process. Your attorney will be fighting to get you as much compensation as possible. The defendant’s team, including the insurance company lawyers and insurance adjuster, will be fighting to pay as little as possible.
While traffic accident cases rarely end up at trial, it is possible if the defendant’s team does not meet your expectations for a settlement. That decision is yours. If you feel you deserve more than they are willing to settle for and your attorney feels you may get it awarded in the courtroom, you could take the case to a judge or jury trial.
This is especially important if you suffered catastrophic injuries and will likely require years of support and care. Truck accident lawyers understand this and will offer legal advice based on your unique needs and the strength of your case.
Why Call Morris Bart?
If you live or had an accident in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, or Arkansas, choose the Morris Bart law firm to handle your case. Our attorneys work out of 15 offices across the Gulf South, and our results speak for our abilities.
Like you, we live in various towns and cities here. We are pleased to be able to help our neighbors fight for their rights and proper compensation. We are waiting to hear from you. Contact the Morris Bart law firm today.
Questions?Call (800) 537-8185
to find a Morris Bart office near you.
