If you’re involved in a semi-truck accident, you may be entitled to compensation. Below, a truck accident lawyer will share:
- Who may be at fault
- The types of compensation you may be entitled to receive
- How to determine what your claim is worth.
These types of accidents can be extremely frightening along with causing serious injuries and property damage. The goal for this blog is to relieve some of your fear and provide you with helpful information.
Who Is At Fault In A Semi-Truck Accident?
Semi-truck accidents are much more complex than most car accidents. There could be more than one person at fault. In addition to the driver or another driver causing the accident, some of the liable parties may include and are not limited to:
- The trucking company
- A company hired by the trucking company or driver to perform maintenance on the semi-truck
- Individual maintenance workers
- A part manufacturer that produced a faulty part
Assuming fault has been assigned, there are several types of compensation that you may be eligible to receive. Do keep in mind that this is not legal advice. This blog post is for educational purposes only.
What Types Of Compensation You May Be Eligible To Receive
According to our friends at Herschensohn Law Firm, PLLC, in general, there are two types of compensation: economic damages and non-economic damages. An economic damage is something that has a monetary value assigned. For example, if you have a medical bill stating you owe $2500.00, that money is considered an economic damage. Economic damages include and may not be limited to:
- Medical bills
- Time lost from work
- Surgical procedures
- Rehabilitation expenses
- Property damage to your vehicle or other property within it that was damaged in the wreck
As you can see, the basic types of economic damage have a cost or can have a cost accounted to it.
A non-economic damage is a type of damage from the wreck that doesn’t have a dollar amount attached Some example of non-economic damages include and may not be limited to:
- Mental suffering
- Loss of companionship
- Loss of consortium
- Wrongful death
- Pain and suffering
These types of expenses are still damages, but the dollar amount for each must be determined. So, how is the amount of a claim determined?
How To Determine What Your Claim Is Worth
No blog post can give you a specific amount that your claim may be worth. With that said, the more severe the damages, the more you may receive. For example, if your vehicle was totaled and you had serious injuries, you’re more likely to receive a higher claim worth based on the severity of the accident and how it is impacting your life. If you were lucky enough to only sustain minor injuries and damage, you may still be entitled to compensation, but it may not be the same amount of compensation as you may have received if the accident were more severe.
If you have been involved in an accident, contact an attorney near you for help immediately.