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Truck Accidents: Factors That Influence Compensation and Liability

Car crashes can be devastating, and dealing with the aftermath can be stressful. While there’s no denying that collisions are a hassle, accidents when trucks are involved typically have even more devastating outcomes versus two or more cars.

In these cases, hiring a truck crash attorney is important. Collisions involving trucks tend to have more severe injuries, leaving the passengers and driver to wonder what compensation they’re entitled to and who’s liable. To better understand your settlement, understanding the factors determining compensation and liability is essential.

Below, we will discuss everything that comes into play when determining compensation and liability in a car accident.

Factors That Influence Compensation

Much like a traditional car accident, several factors determine the total compensation you’re entitled to in a truck accident. The main thing to understand is that no two truck accidents are the same.

For example, an otherwise healthy man in his 20s who needed one surgery to correct an injury will likely receive less compensation than a 50-year-old man who needed several surgeries and in-home care afterward due to the severity of their injuries.

Your Injuries and Medical Care

Arguably one of the most significant factors determining your compensation is the extent of your injuries and how much your medical care costs. If you require around-the-clock care at home, surgeries, and extensive medical care, your compensation is likely to be much higher than someone who only went to the hospital to be checked out after the accident.

A knowledgeable attorney will be able to assess the medical care you need post-accident to determine what’s fair compensation to cover the cost of your care. This compensation doesn’t have to just cover the initial care costs post-accident but those of the foreseeable future, depending on the extent of your injuries.

Economic Damage

Besides potential bodily damage, there’s economic damage from a truck accident. Factoring in the economic damage you sustained in the accident plays a role in compensation. This total can include how much it costs to repair your vehicle, replace it if necessary, any lost wages from being out of work, etc.

Non-Economic Damage

Truck accidents can cause non-economic damage too. Auto accidents can be traumatizing and cause a lot of stress and anxiety for people, so considering all the emotional damage you’ve been through, you need to play a part in your compensation.

This compensation also includes any losses you suffered due to the crash. Losses that a qualified attorney can use to fight for compensation include:

  • Loss of life’s enjoyment
  • Loss of companion
  • Inconveniences caused by the accident

Factors That Influence Liability

In an accident, someone is always liable. Regarding truck accidents, there are a few ways that you or the other driver can have liability. If the accident was with a truck from a company, there are ways to argue corporate negligence.

You might be able to argue that the corporation didn’t perform adequate maintenance on the vehicles, which contributed to the accident, hired unqualified drivers, and more. Truck drivers are subject to more strict regulations than regular drivers, like not operating them without a certain amount of rest time, only during certain hours, and more.

If your lawyer can prove that the driver or company wasn’t following regulations, they can fight for their liability, increasing your overall compensation.

Are You Seeking Compensation for a Truck Accident?

Car crashes aren’t something to take lightly, especially if the accident involves a truck. Trucks tend to cause more damage and serious injuries than smaller vehicles, so getting the compensation you deserve can make your life less stressful after the accident. While compensation can’t make up for everything the accident caused, it can help.

If you’ve been involved in a truck accident, the best thing you can do is speak with an attorney as soon as possible so they can assess the case and start working with the insurance companies on compensation.