Truck Accident Settlements and Verdicts
If you’re suffering from losses caused by a Louisiana 18-wheeler accident or truck accident, you have the right to pursue a fair settlement for your damages. These settlements and verdicts vary based on a variety of factors, including the nature of the accident, state law, the number of parties involved, and others.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a big truck accident and aren’t sure where to turn next, call Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys for a free legal consultation about your case. Our lawyers can defend your legal rights while pursuing financial compensation you could recover from your truck accident.
What Factors Affect Truck Accident Verdicts and Settlements?
Injuries resulting from truck accidents have the capacity to change the course of your life forever, and we understand that a financial reward can’t erase the hardships you’ll face. However, a monetary award can help cover your damages, and provide resources to address the changes you’re up against.
Truck accident settlements can differ depending on a number of factors, and two similar accidents can result in widely different outcomes, based on how the accident affected each victim. Generally, damages are broken into two broad categories:
- Economic damages, or monetary losses including property damage costs, hospital bills, and lost wages
- Non-economic damages are intangible losses without a monetary value such as pain and suffering, loss of companionship, and loss of enjoyment of life
In extreme cases of negligence, the court might award punitive damages in order to punish the defendant and dissuade them from repeating their actions. In any case, there are many different factors affecting the damages available in a truck accident injury case. When negotiating your settlement, your lawyer and insurance provider will review the following:
- Injuries and disabilities: Your injuries can cause short- or long-term health issues or even permanent disability. Your compensation in these cases will usually depend on the severity and longevity of your injuries.
- Lost income: If you’re prevented from working at your old due to the injuries caused by your tractor-trailer crash, the wages or income you’ve lost can be included in your demand for compensation. The same is true if your injuries prevent you from working altogether.
- Medical expenses, from the ambulance ride to surgery costs, hospital stays, and assistive technology, are all factors in a settlement.
- The length of your recovery, or whether you’re able to fully recover at all, also impacts when we settle and how much we can seek on your behalf.
A few other factors can also impact your claim:
- The number of liable parties
- Insurance policy limits and standards
- State law
- and others
The complex interplay of law, policy, and liability can make it daunting to figure out the value of your case. Luckily, you do not have to estimate it on your own. Call an experienced truck accident injury attorney if you’re injured in a Louisiana trucking accident. While we can’t guarantee a favorable outcome in your truck accident lawsuit, we’ll work to make sure you get the help you deserve.
What Makes a Trucking Company Liable for My Injuries?
If a carrier or trucking company fails to abide by federal safety guidelines or fails to ensure their drivers are abiding by those guidelines, they can be held liable for the accident and any resulting damages. Common causes of trucking accidents include
- Drunk driving and driving under the influence of drugs
- Drowsy driving
- Distracted driving
- Reckless driving
- and others
These behaviors are usually grounds for one or more parties taking on liability for damages of a crash, but other details—specific laws, insurance policies, and the like—can dramatically impact the verdict.
Assessing Damages
Before an attorney from Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys can secure a fair settlement for your injuries, we’ll need to know the facts of your case, which requires a thorough review of all the available evidence. Our team will collect evidence and witness testimony to use in your claim, including:
- Photos of your injuries and the accident scene
- Video footage
- Police reports
- Medical reports
- Witness accounts
As we work on your case, you’ll receive consistent updates and communication regarding our progress. We’ll also advise you on what other clients in similar positions have done, and what damages we think you can realistically expect to recover.
Call a Louisiana Truck Accident Lawyer for Help Today
The team of experienced personal injury lawyers at Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys is here to help you recover the compensation you deserve after a debilitating truck accident. If insurance is offering a payout that seems unfair, you don’t have to accept it—give us a call for a free legal consultation so we can see how we can help you.
We’ll work hard to ensure the people responsible for your injuries are held accountable for your actions. Learn more about how we can help after your truck accident by calling our office today.
