Calculating Your Truck Accident: Truck accidents are known to result in serious injuries and fatalities. When you are injured in a truck accident, it is important to understand how to determine the amount of compensation that you might deserve. In order to do that, here are some factors to consider when determining your claim amount.
The Cost of Medical Bills
The cost of medical bills is one of the most important factors in determining how much money you should receive as part of your settlement. It’s also one of the easiest to calculate because you can get an estimate from your doctor’s office or emergency room before treatment begins.
You can also get estimates from other medical providers who treated you after the accident, such as physical therapists or chiropractors. If you had to pay out-of-pocket for treatment before filing your claim, include this amount in your calculations as well.
Lost Wages
If you are unable to work because of your injuries, then you may be eligible for lost wages compensation. Lost wages compensation allows you to recover compensation for money that was lost because of your truck accident. For example, if you were unable to work for two weeks after an accident, then that is two weeks’ worth of lost wages compensation that should be added to your settlement amount.
The Severity of Injuries
Depending on how severe your injuries are, your truck accident claim could be worth more than if you had minor injuries. The more severe your injuries are, the more money they will cost you. For example, if you need surgery or physical therapy after an injury-causing accident, then this will increase your truck accident claim amount.
The Person Who Caused the Accident
If it was someone else’s fault, then they should pay for any medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses you’ve incurred because of their negligence. If there is more than one responsible party, then your case may require a complex calculation process by an attorney or insurance company representative.
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages are intended to punish the wrongdoer and deter others from similar conduct. Punitive damages can be awarded by a jury or judge if they find that the other driver was acting maliciously or recklessly when causing your injuries.
Location
The state where the truck accident occurred will dictate how easy it is to file a claim. Some states have laws that protect trucking companies from liability claims, which means you may not be able to recover money unless you can prove negligence or recklessness on behalf of the driver or company. In these cases, it’s best to hire an attorney who specializes in trucking accidents.
Insurance Coverage Amounts
When filing truck accident compensation and claims, you should check your insurance policy to see what kind of coverage you have. For example, if you have an umbrella insurance policy, this will provide additional protection above and beyond the limits of your auto policy. If you don’t have an umbrella policy, you may want to consider purchasing one so that you can be protected in the event that you are responsible for more than $100,000 worth of damages in an accident.
Whether You Contributed to the Accident in Any Way
If another party was at fault for causing the collision, then you can file a claim against them for any injuries or vehicle damage sustained as a result of the crash. However, if it turns out that both parties were partially responsible for causing the crash (for example, if both drivers were speeding), then each driver’s insurance company would only be responsible for paying out 50 percent of their respective policies’ limits.
The truck accident claim amount is determined by the value of your claim and the type of damage you have suffered. These factors, or others, may play a role in determining your settlement amount.
