ESPANOL
Every injury case is unique, as are the awarded damages.
There is no average settlement for a truck accident. Each accident is different enough to earn a victim different awards. Usually, the more losses an accident causes for a victim, the larger the settlement may be. The only way to know how much your case is worth is to speak to a legal professional who has dealt with cases similar to yours before.
You might be able to collect a settlement to recover any of the following costs:
- Pain and suffering
- Out of pocket costs
- Current and future medical costs
- Transportation costs while your car is being repaired
- Car repair
- Wrongful death
- Loss of guidance
- Loss of your loved one’s income
- Loss of consortium
- Therapy
Value Your Damages and Compile Evidence
What you may want to do before you file a claim is compile all available evidence that supports your testimony. Take photos of the accident scene, note the weather conditions on the day you were injured, and write down your experience. You may also collect the names and contact information of the eyewitnesses to your accident. You could ask them further questions in the future. The police report might also have useful details for your case.
Provide your medical documents and receipts with your claim as well. Visit a doctor after the accident as soon as possible if you have not done so already. This can connect your injuries to the accident.
Your economic losses might be easy to add up and claim. However, your noneconomic damages might be more difficult to determine. Pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of consortium or guidance (if you lost a loved one in the accident) can prove to be difficult to assign a monetary value to. Even a lost limb can entitle you to damages, though not many people will know how to value this injury. A lawyer may be able to help you do this.
Money cannot resolve your situation or heal your pain, but it may help with financial difficulties after your accident. It can be difficult to pay for your hospital bills while trying to keep food on the table, especially if you are unable to work due to your injury. An insurance settlement could help you in this situation.
Vicarious Liability May Affect Your Settlement
If you were harmed in a truck accident, you might be able to seek damages from the trucking company. The company may have been negligent in their operation choices. For instance, they may not have run a complete background check on the driver. The truck driver who hit you may have been intoxicated behind the wheel. The driver may have also had a previous DUI on their record that the company either did not discover or willfully ignored during the hiring process.
This negligence could allow you to pursue additional compensation from the trucking company in addition to the financial award you are seeking from the truck driver. You may also investigate to make sure that the truck driver was certified to have a commercial driver’s license (CDL).
Both Georgia and South Carolina have requirements that drivers must meet before receiving a certification, as discussed on the Georgia Department of Driver Services and South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles websites. The certification process indicates that a truck driver understands the legal severity of their job. Any violation of applicable rules or relevant laws indicates a disregard for your safety, and such negligence might entitle you to damages.
Call George Sink, P.A. Injury Lawyers Now to Learn More
Call today to speak with a George Sink, P.A. Injury Lawyers team member today about your options. We may not be able to give you an average settlement for a truck accident, but we can still talk to you about the legal process that is ahead of you.
Our team may answer any questions you have about your circumstances. We can keep you up to date throughout your case. We will also not require any payment from you unless we win a settlement or judgment for you, as we work on a contingency fee basis.