If you’ve been injured in a truck wreck, you may be asking yourself, “What Types of Damages Can I Pursue for My Truck Accident?”
Depending on the severity of your injuries, the cost of your treatment, and other factors, there are many types of damages you can seek for your injuries. These include economic damages, non-economic damages, and punitive damages.
Truck wrecks happen for all sorts of reasons. Figuring out why your wreck happened and who’s at fault is a big job. If you or a loved one suffered serious injuries or fatalities because of a truck accident, call Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys today. We can help you determine the damages you qualify for and help you find the help you need.
Economic Damages You Can Seek After a Truck Accident
Economic losses are also known as special damages. These damages include costs that have specific dollar amounts. Examples of economic damages include the following.
Medical expenses
Truck accidents frequently cause major injuries. If you’ve been in the hospital after a truck accident, you can collect damages for all associated medical costs:
- Emergency medical care
- Doctor bills
- Hospital stays
- Prescription medications
- Physical therapy
- Long-term care
- Other medical costs
In order to win these damages, you’ll have to prove they were caused by the truck driver. This begins at the scene. Get examined by first responders, even if you don’t feel injured. Some injuries take hours or days to become apparent.
You should also see a medical doctor as soon as possible after your accident. You might also need emergency medical care. Getting treated for your injuries doesn’t just help your health. It also proves your injuries to insurance.
If you wait too long to get treatment, insurance may claim that your injuries weren’t that serious. They could use this argument to deny your claim.
You should also follow all treatment advice from your doctor. If you skip appointments, therapy, or medication, the other party can claim that you’re not doing everything to reduce your damages.
You should also keep detailed records of all medical costs you incur.
Lost wages
If you can’t work due to your injuries, you may collect payment for your lost wages. When you’re unable to work, you have no way of paying costs like your mortgage, car note, or other expenses. A truck accident injury claim can help you recover the money you need to make up for the work you’ve missed.
If your injuries keep you from going back to work, you may also be eligible for damages related to your loss of earning capacity. These can happen if you’re left disabled after your accident.
Whatever your injuries, a knowledgeable truck accident injury attorney can help you determine what damages apply. Call Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys today for a free consultation.
Property damages
Passenger vehicles are often totaled after a truck accident. Even if your car survived, it could be seriously damaged. A truck accident settlement can help you pay for your car’s repairs or replacement.
Property damage also includes damages to other items like electronics, jewelry, watches, and more. As you consult with a Louisiana truck accident lawyer to tally your damages, consider all property that was damaged in the accident.
Legal fees
The costs of hiring and retaining a personal injury lawyer are also included in most claims. Also, any fees levied by the court to hear your case can be included.
Most truck accident lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. This means that they won’t bill any payments until after they win your case, which can be a huge relief for victims.
Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys take that a step further. Under the G Guarantee®, we promise our clients:
No fee unless we win. I’ll win your case or you don’t owe me a dime. No costs, no expenses, no fees. Nothing.
Non-economic Damages After a Truck Accident
Non-economic damages, also known as general damages, are handled differently than special damages. These damages do not have a set dollar amount. Instead, they’re meant to compensate victims for the physical and emotional suffering they’ve experienced.
Some examples of general damages include
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional suffering
- Mental anguish
- Scarring
- Disfigurement
- Ongoing fear or anxiety
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium
- and others
These damages can be very hard to calculate. An experienced lawyer will consult with subject experts, like psychiatrists and other doctors, to determine what your damages are worth. Then, we’ll combine them with your economic damages into a demand letter. We’ll send the demand letter to insurance to start your claim.
Punitive Damages Can Be Awarded in Severe Cases
In severe cases of neglect, courts can award punitive damages. In contrast to other damages, punitive damages exist to punish the defendant.
Typically, punitive damages are only available when the defendant’s actions show intentional misconduct. For example, if the truck driver was drunk, they could be ordered to pay punitive damages.
Call a Louisiana Truck Accident Lawyer Today
After a truck accident, you could be reeling. You could be in pain, facing medical bills, and unsure of where to turn for help.
Call Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys for a free consultation about your case. A dedicated lawyer will listen to your story and offer advice. When we take on your case, we’ll start right away building evidence. We won’t charge you a dime until we win.
Call us today.
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