The Value of an 18 Wheeler Settlement
If an 18 wheeler rear-ends your vehicle, you may be able to bring an claim against the truck driver and their employer. The value of your settlement will be determined by the nature and severity of your injuries.
You can also seek damages to compensate for future loss of income. But, you must wait until your doctor has confirmed that your injuries will cause permanent consequences.
Compensation for Injury
The extent of the injuries suffered by the victim determines the value of a settlement following an 18-wheeler crash. The injuries sustained in truck accidents tend to be far more severe than car crash injuries and the resulting damages often reflect this. However, the monetary amount of compensation awarded to victims will depend on a variety of other factors.
Medical expenses are a significant aspect in determining a settlement in the event of a trucking accident. The cost of any past and future treatments will be taken into account when calculating this amount which can include any transportation expenses to and from appointments with your doctor. The loss of income is a different factor as is the effect of the accident on your lifestyle. If your injuries hinder you from working again, this can also be included in a demand for compensation.
It is not uncommon for victims to recover hundreds of thousands and even millions of dollars from a truck or 18 wheeler settlement following an accident. The settlements are more than the ones given in a typical auto accident, and some of them exceed records.
Our attorneys will investigate all parties that could be responsible for your losses, including the truck driver and the company they work for, as well as any third-party companies that could have contributed to the accident. For instance loading companies could be held accountable when they do not properly stack or overfill cargo in the trailer. If the accident was caused by defective parts for the truck or vehicle, you may also make a claim against the distributor and/or manufacturer.
Damages for Suffering and Pain
Apart from the economic loss, victims may claim compensation for suffering and pain. This is in relation to the emotional and psychological distress caused by an accident. It's hard to quantify, which makes it a vital part of your claim. Our lawyers will estimate your economic loss in order to receive an appropriate amount of compensation for your injuries.
18 wheeler accident lawyer athens suffer from long-lasting and severe injuries that last for a long time. The medical expenses and future losses of these victims are likely be significant. Experts like economists or medical professionals aid in calculating the amount of damages. Insurance companies can attempt to limit these losses by arguing that your medical conditions didn't arise from the crash, but that they existed prior to the crash. Our team will fight these claims and get you the compensation you are due.
Sometimes it is the case that more than one person may be liable for an 18-wheeler collision. Besides the truck driver the company that employs him or her could be held responsible. If the truck was not correctly loaded and the crash was the result of this, the loading company could be held responsible.
It can seem like it takes forever to settle a truck crash case. However, it's important to realize that you should not settle a personal injury claim until you reach your maximum medical improvement (MMI). If you settle too early, you will take a deal which is not enough compensation for your injuries.
Damages for Economic Loss
The most significant damage in a case of a truck crash are your economic losses. These include the loss of wages and property damage, as well as the cost of repairing or replacing your vehicle, as well as any other items you lost in the crash.
Due to the weight and size of these vehicles, trucks cannot be maneuvered as easily as cars for passenger use to avoid collisions. They take a longer time to stop, making rear-end crashes particularly risky. The impact that results can be catastrophic and life-changing.
Insurance companies and trucking companies will do everything to reduce their liability for the victim's injuries. This includes dragging out negotiations to try and get the statute passed for filing a suit.
An experienced lawyer can help you fight back against these tactics and get the maximum amount of compensation for your injuries.
If more than one party was responsible for the accident, comparative negligence laws may influence your final settlement or verdict. However, your attorney has the expertise and experience to identify all liable parties and make claims against them on behalf of you. This increases the odds of receiving the maximum amount you deserve. Contact Kaine Law today for a free consultation. Our attorneys will review your case, discuss your legal options and discuss the potential worth of your truck accident claim.
Damages for non-economic losses
Trucking companies and their insurance providers might not be able to settle cases outside of court. In a lot of instances, the severity of the injuries and the complex nature of the case mean that a lawsuit is required to ensure that victims receive fair compensation.
Our firm has the resources needed to fight for you and obtain the best settlement for your case. We will call in experts to conduct reenactments of accidents as well as other methods to demonstrate the severity of your losses in court. This could include vocational and medical experts, as well as economic loss specialists that can determine the value of your future and past damages.
Additionally, we could also find other parties to be responsible when they contributed to the incident. This is particularly true if they failed to comply with their legal obligations, such as by failing to maintain the truck or hire qualified drivers.
We may also seek a remedy against the trucking firm which employed the driver or if the firm was owned by an outside party. Trucking companies may be held accountable for a variety of reasons, which include requiring their drivers to work inexplicably long hours or reducing costs by not executing regular maintenance on the truck. We can also assert a claim against the manufacturer of trucks if a defective component is found to have caused an accident.