The sheer size of trucks is one example of what can make truck accidents different from car accidents when a collision occurs. Trucks can weigh up to 30 times more than a car, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), thus resulting in extensive damage to a vehicle as well as severe injuries to passengers.
The high clearance from the ground that trucks have can lead to smaller cars being rolled over or getting caught underneath the truck. This presents the opportunity for different types of accidents that would not be possible if two vehicles collided.
Victims of Truck Accidents Can Suffer More Severe Injuries
According to the National Safety Council (NSC), trucks account for a high rate of fatal accidents. This is due to the weight and size of a truck, especially when traveling at a high rate of speed.
Because of the documented potential to cause harm, you or a loved one may be severely injured (or your loved one could be fatally injured) after your truck accident. You may be entitled to compensation for the losses you have suffered because of your injuries or your loved one’s wrongful death.
Possible Losses Covered by a Wrongful Death Lawsuit
If your loved one was the victim of a fatal truck accident, then you may be entitled to compensation. Generally, surviving family members of the deceased can recover compensation for wrongful death. Family members include:
- A spouse
- One or more parents
- Children
- Any other financial dependents
The losses you may be entitled to for a loved one’s wrongful death will depend on your relationship with the deceased. Covered losses can include:
- The cost of your loved one’s funeral
- Unearned future wages of the deceased
- Past and future pain and suffering
- The loss of comfort and companionship of a loved one, also known as loss of consortium per the Legal Information Institute (LII)
- Medical bills for treatment of your loved one’s injuries
If you or a loved one was injured, then your lawyer can file a personal injury lawsuit on your behalf.
Possible Losses Covered by a Personal Injury Lawsuit
A higher likelihood of serious injury is one way truck accidents are different than car accidents. Every accident must be evaluated independently, but some factors that can make truck accidents particularly dangerous are:
- A truck traveling at a high rate of speed
- A truck carrying heavy cargo
- A truck driver is distracted or tired
- A trucker driving intoxicated or under the influence of drugs
Truck accidents can produce injuries that vary in severity. If you or your loved one was injured in a trucking accident, you may be eligible to receive financial compensation for:
- Your medical bills
- Your lost income
- Any long-term decline in your earning ability
- Your pain and suffering
- Your rehabilitation-related costs
- Counseling for psychological trauma
Lawyers take a client-specific approach when evaluating losses. Your truck accident lawyer will speak with you, your doctors, your loved ones, and any other relevant parties to determine your losses. They may then assign a monetary value to each of your losses, arriving at a total which they will seek through settlement negotiations.
For a free legal consultation, call (855) 605-2959
Pursuing Compensation After a Truck Crash
No matter the specific circumstances of each client’s case, lawyers have the same goal: to obtain compensation. Your attorney will take the following steps as they seek compensation after your truck accident.
Calculating Economic and Non-Economic Losses
Damages from a truck accident generally fall into the category of non-economic losses or economic losses. Damages such as lost wages, damage to your vehicle, and medical costs can have a straightforward value and are considered economic losses.
Other losses like pain and suffering are considered non-economic; they may not have an obvious value. Your lawyer will rely on one or more legally accepted approaches to calculate the value of these losses.
Identifying the Liable Parties
Truck accidents can entitle victims to pursue compensation from more than one party. Potential defendants to be named in your truck accident lawsuit or insurance claim may include:
- The truck driver who caused your accident
- A trucking company
- A non-trucking company that employed the at-fault driver
- A truck manufacturer or assembler
Your lawyer will work to negotiate a settlement with those who represent the at-fault parties involved.
We Can Help You Fight to Recover the Compensation You Deserve
As a victim of a truck crash, you should be worried about healing from your injuries or coping with the loss of a loved one. Allow a lawyer to handle all the legal work on your behalf. Call an attorney today at (702) 444-3228 for your free consultation.
Call or text (855) 605-2959 or complete a Free Case Review form