How Much is Your Truck Accident Case Worth?

Injuries stemming from a semi-truck accident are usually more severe than when you are in an accident involving another passenger car, which, in turn, forces truck drivers and motor carriers to carry higher levels of insurance coverage. This means that settlements from truck accidents tend to be much higher than typical car accident settlements.

Recoverable Damages

The value of a personal injury lawsuit and semi-truck accident case strictly depends on the type and amount of recoverable damages. Every case is unique, just as every person and every injury is unique. Multiple people can suffer the exact same injury yet one can be incapacitated while the other is not even mildly inconvenienced.

Determining the level of your personal injury lawsuit stemming from a truck accident will hinge on several factors:

• Strength of the case (each party’s level of fault);
• The severity of the injury;
• The impact of the injury on the plaintiff;
• How long the injury will continue;
• The amount of medical care (i.e., therapy and/or rehabilitation) required;
• The proximity (closeness of relationship) of the injury to the accident;
• How much insurance the truck owner carries;
• Whether the defendant party is willing to settle the case; and
• Local practice and precedent.

Location and Jury Selection

While the above factors will almost always be considered in determining the economic value of the personal injury lawsuit in a truck accident, consideration must also be given to where the case is filed. Larger metropolitan areas may supply juries more willing to grant larger recoveries than juries from smaller or more rural towns. Factors to consider when filing a personal injury lawsuit of this type involve:

• Jury construction (members of the jury);
• Jury sympathy;
• The appearance of the plaintiff and defendant; and
• Overall juror perceptions.

Based on all the above factors, an experienced truck accident attorney will be able to supply a value to your case prior to being in front of a jury or can negotiate with the truck company’s insurance on your behalf with your calculated damages in mind.