How Much Is My Truck Accident Case Worth?

The value of a truck accident case varies from place to place and, even within each location, from case to case. This makes it difficult to place a price tag on any truck accident case without first knowing which of the many factors that influence the value of a case are at play.

Let’s take a look at some of these most common factors.

• Severity of Injuries: Medical expenses often form the bulk of accident claims, with the worst bodily harm being worth six or even seven-digit sums. The severity of a victim’s injuries is the main driving factor behind this, with more severe conditions requiring more tests, more treatment, and more medication for longer periods of time.
• Property Damage: Any property lost as a result of a truck accident has a monetary value attached to it. This includes the vehicle itself, any objects damaged in the crash, and, in some cases, even digital property (such as data on a drive or computer) that becomes inaccessible because of the crash.
• Lost Wages: Injury, both physical and psychological, can result in an accident victim having to take time away from work. If this is the case, wages a victim misses out on can be reimbursed as part of a settlement or claim.
• Pain and Suffering: The most common non-economic damage compensated for in truck accident cases, pain and suffering include the victim’s actual experiences of physical discomfort and psychological distress.
• Available Evidence and Documentation: The value of a case can go up or down depending on how much of the damages can actually be proven with concrete evidence. The most common forms of evidence involved in truck accident cases include official accident reports, medical records, witness statements, and even footage from doorbell cameras or CCTV systems.
• Insurance Coverage: The caps on an insurance policy can often affect the maximum value an accident victim can recover, even through a trial, as these limits the client presumably agreed to legally define how much money the insurer can pay out. That said, there are rare instances where courts might decide and have grounds to order that victims deserve more than policy limits define.
• Degree of Fault: Different states have different systems for handling the degree of fault of a claimant. In some cases, victims cannot receive compensation if they contributed in any way to an accident, while in others, victims partially at fault may still get compensation, albeit one reduced by their degree of responsibility.

This is not a complete list of factors that affect a case’s value. For a better assessment and case evaluation, it is best to contact a truck accident law firm.

How Can a Truck Accident Attorney Help Me?

Working with a truck accident attorney affords victims avenues for compensation they might otherwise not have if they tried to make a claim on their own. They also increase the chances of maximizing recovery through those avenues.

Due to how intricate personal injury law is, how exactly a truck accident attorney accomplishes this varies across cases, and, in fact, across lawyers themselves. There are, however, several threads that remain constant.

• Investigation: When you work with a truck accident attorney, they will begin an investigation to determine the value of the damages you are owed. This is important because while the insurer will likely undertake an investigation of their own, their adjuster protects their interests—not yours—and is more concerned with saving money than giving it out.
• Legal Counsel: There is a common saying that knowing is half the battle. Truck accident lawyers give you this advantage by being resources of information, explaining your rights, assessing the strength of your case, and guiding you toward the best courses of action to maximize your claim.
• Personal Representation: Your lawyer serves as your representative throughout a claim, even speaking and filing legal documents on your behalf, and attending important meetings with other parties when you are indisposed. This allows you as a client to focus on your personal recovery and time rather than stress over your claim as you can trust that your interests are always placed first even when you aren’t there.
• Resources and Networks: As personal injury lawyers, truck accident attorneys have access to resources that most people either do not, or that other people simply lack the expertise to sift through and understand. They can pull up case law and expert witnesses on short notice if it means a better outcome for your case.
• Determining Liability: Because so much of a case’s value rests on the distribution of fault in an accident, an accurate assessment of responsibility is a near requirement in order to maximize your payout. Your lawyer will put together a case that absolves you of as much fault that other parties throw your way as possible… sometimes, even all of it.
• Negotiation and Settlement: Not everyone has the skills or assertiveness to negotiate for their best interests. Thankfully, this is exactly what lawyers are trained to do, allowing them to fight for the highest possible amount you can get from your insurance policy.
• Litigation: If all else fails, your lawyer can take your case to court. The threat of a lawsuit is almost always enough to make a difficult insurer more amenable to negotiations, but if it isn’t, your lawyer will build a case to present in front of a judge and jury.