What Is the Average Settlement for Semi Truck Accident?

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A white semi truck is in an accident with a blue car.Truck accidents are highly variable, and the settlement amount will be different for someone with mild injuries, someone with more serious or possibly permanent injuries, or someone who lost a loved one in the accident. For this reason, it’s difficult to give an average settlement amount, and it wouldn’t tell you much about your own potential claim. Instead, we’ll discuss the potential damages and how a Georgia truck accident lawyer will help you determine what your specific case is worth.

The CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm was founded by attorney Ali Awad and swiftly became the fastest-growing law firm in the country. Our experienced investigative team has the know-how you need for a successful truck accident claim, and we’re always available for a free consultation. Please contact us to learn more about what your damages may be worth.

What Are Damages in a Semi Truck Accident?

In order to determine a reasonable amount of compensation to seek from the insurance company, your lawyer will need to discuss the following potential damages with you:

Medical Expenses

Your attorney will ask you to gather all your current medical bills. If you’re still in treatment, they may estimate your future costs or wait until your treatment is complete to finalize a settlement. In the event that you need continuing care for the rest of your life, your attorney will estimate those costs.

Remember that medical expenses include mobility aids, like wheelchairs, canes, crutches, or power chairs, as these are often expensive (and not necessarily covered by insurance). You should also include travel expenses if you have to drive significantly far to see a specialist. Physical therapy or rehabilitation may also be a surprise cost, because many people initially believe it’s covered by their health insurance. Often this is true, but only up to a set amount of appointments. For example, if your insurance carrier only pays for twenty PT sessions a year, and you need more than that to recover from your truck accident injuries, you may receive an unexpected bill on the day of your twenty-first session.

If you need mental health care related to your accident, these costs should also be added. Semi truck accidents are often extremely traumatic, and accident victims may develop anxiety, depression, insomnia, PTSD, or other mental health concerns afterward. You should be able to seek treatment without worrying about the costs your health insurance doesn’t cover.

Lost Income

A semi truck could weigh anywhere from 35,000 to 80,000 pounds. It’s no surprise that when a semi crashes into a smaller vehicle, that vehicle’s occupants are at high risk of multiple serious injuries, including broken bones, dislocated joints, internal bruising or bleeding, head and brain injuries, back and spinal cord injuries, and more. You may be hospitalized and unable to work for weeks or even months due to these issues. Many people burn through their paid time off, then find themselves without any income if they’re still recovering. Both paid and unpaid days off should be counted toward your lost income, as you could have used your paid days off in other ways.

Future lost income is also a consideration. If your injuries result in a permanent disability or chronic pain, you may not be able to return to your job at all, especially if your work was physically taxing. Some people can only work part-time after their accident, or they have to switch to a less demanding job that may not pay as well. All these situations lead to a reduction in future income, which your attorney will estimate as part of your damages.

Property Damage

This is usually limited to the repair or replacement cost of your vehicle. Due to the previously mentioned severity of damage likely with truck accidents, many accident victims find their vehicle is totaled. An estimate for the repair work or the car’s Blue Book value will be used to determine the amount of property damage. If other expensive items were damaged in the crash, such as a laptop or phone, you can include these repair or replacement costs as well.

Pain and Suffering

This one is a little harder to determine, because you don’t have a bill or an amount of income you lost, but your physical and emotional pain is still a damage. Your attorney will ask about your pain, the duration, and the difficulties you continue to face, and discuss with you what might be an appropriate amount for your pain and suffering.

Permanent Disability or Disfigurement, Loss of Enjoyment of Life

This is a separate damage from lost future earnings, although many people have both. Even if you are still able to work, you also deserve compensation for any disability or disfigurement you sustained in the accident. As with pain and suffering, this damage doesn’t come with a specific number attached, but the more severe your disability, the more compensation you should receive. Your attorney will want to discuss your limitations, activities you are no longer able to participate in, and other ways your disability has affected your life.

Wrongful Death

Losing a loved one is a terrible tragedy. No amount of money can bring your loved one back, but for some people, the compensation from a wrongful death suit can bring them a sense of closure or justice. It may also allow you to move forward with your life, without worrying how you will pay your bills or care for your children.

There are multiple damages possible in a wrongful death lawsuit. Loss of consortium or companionship refers to the positive effects of a relationship with the deceased party – their love, care, guidance, advice, support, etc.

If your spouse provided all or most of the financial support for your family, you may want to seek compensation for the income they would have earned if they’d survived. This is often helpful for surviving spouses who don’t want to immediately return to the workforce at a time when their children need them more than ever. Other families find that the decedent’s life insurance policy didn’t cover as much as they’d expected, especially after paying for funeral costs (another damage you can include in your losses).

Under O.C.G.A. § 51-4-2, the surviving spouse may bring a wrongful death suit, and if there is no surviving spouse, the decedent’s children may bring one. You only have two years from the date of the death to file with the court, so if you think there’s any chance your loved one’s death could have been prevented, we recommend speaking with a wrongful death attorney as soon as possible.

Learn More About the Average Settlement for an 18 Wheeler Accident Similar to Yours From the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm Attorney

The best way to find out about settlements for accidents is to talk with a Georgia semi truck accident lawyer. We encourage you to contact us at the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm for a free consultation about your accident. There is no obligation, and if you wish to move forward, we won’t charge you anything until we settle your case. Call us now at 833-254-2923.

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Frequently Asked Questions

After a personal injury, you're bound to have legal questions. The CEO Lawyer Ali Awad can provide you with answers to these questions, just as he's given answers to his millions of curious social media followers. Take a look at some of the most common personal injury law questions for general information, and then reach out to one of our seasoned attorneys for specific guidance on your case!

Contact us now (833) 254-2923.

Help Negotiating with Insurance Carriers

To quickly resolve matters following an accident, insurance companies will offer you less than you deserve in compensation for your injuries. Many victims feel pressured to accept these offers as the bills begin to pile up, but that is rarely a good idea. The insurance company is looking to protect its bottom line; and will offer injured victims less than they deserve. An experienced personal injury attorney understands how to negotiate with the insurance company and can look out for your best interests by getting you the compensation you deserve after an injury. If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, it is important to avoid negotiating or providing recorded statements to the insurance company without first seeking help from a qualified personal injury attorney.

Do You Have a Personal Injury Case?

The best way to determine if you have a personal injury case is to speak with a knowledgeable attorney. Our legal professionals have the expertise to evaluate your case and determine a strong legal strategy so that you can obtain the greatest amount of compensation possible under the law. We will enlist investigators, assistants, and other specialists to collect accident reports, speak with witnesses to your accident, and put together a plan. While you focus on your physical recovery, we will remain committed to fighting for the compensation that you deserve.

Georgia's Personal Injury & Accident Firm

Accident victims have a limited time to file a personal injury lawsuit. This time period is referred to as the statute of limitations, and in Atlanta, it lasts only two years. This means that if you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, you have only two years to pursue a personal injury suit. If you wait too long to reach out to an experienced attorney, you might be forever barred from seeking the compensation you deserve.

What to Expect From Your Initial Consultation With a Personal Injury Attorney?

During your initial consultation with CEO Lawyer team, we will go over the important details of your personal injury accident, which include the nature and extent of your injuries, how your injuries have impacted your ability to earn a paycheck, the cost of your medical treatment, and whether further medical treatment will be required. We will answer any questions you might have, as well, in regards to our experience, our track record of success, and what to expect from the legal process. Many personal injury victims wonder if they will be able to afford the legal fees required to pursue a lawsuit. CEO Lawyer injury and accident attorneys will not ask for any type of upfront fee unless we are successful in obtaining compensation for you. That means that if you have been harmed in a motor vehicle accident, slip and fall accident, defective product accident, or any other type of personal injury accident, you can absolutely afford to contact our law office today for assistance. In fact, you cannot afford to wait. Reach out today. We understand that some accident victims might have already obtained the assistance of an attorney but may be dissatisfied with the services provided. We are standing by and prepared to help you change legal representation, regardless of where you are in the process.

Speak to an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney Today

If you or a loved one has been injured in any type of personal injury accident, you should not hesitate to speak with the experienced attorneys at CEO Lawyer personal injury law firm. Call, email, or fill out our online contact form today so that we can begin helping you pursue the compensation you deserve.