Being hit by an 18-wheeler is devastating. Due to their massive size, these accidents often cause severe, life-altering injuries and huge financial burdens. Beyond immediate medical bills, victims face long-term therapy, lost wages, and emotional distress. This guide explores the factors contributing to the true cost of a truck accident, helping you understand the potential impact and the compensation you may be entitled to.
If you would like a no-cost opinion on your case, please consider giving us a call. We have an impeccable track record of obtaining substantial settlements for personal injury victims. As seasoned trial lawyers, we use our courtroom knowledge to increase compensation. Insurance companies understand the distinction between settlement and trial attorneys and bargain appropriately. When you hire us, you select attorneys who can correctly evaluate your case and fight for everything you deserve.
If you are struck by an 18 wheeler, the compensation you can receive ranges from tens of thousands to several million dollars. How much your compensation will be depends on a number of factors: the severity of the injury, the estimate of fault, the amount of medical expenses, and the long-term consequences for your life and work capacity. In this article, we explain what affects the amount of the settlement and what you can realistically expect during the whole process from the initial accident report to the final payment.
What’s the Average Settlement for an 18-Wheeler Accident
Compensation for 18 wheeler accidents is usually significantly higher than for standard traffic accidents, precisely because of the severity of injuries and complex liability issues. Although the minimum insurance for commercial trucks in the United States is about $750,000, deals often exceed that amount. In practice, victims can expect compensation ranging from about $183,000 to millions of dollars, depending on the specific circumstances of the case. The following factors play a key role in the settlement:
• the severity of the injury
• the cost of treatment
• long-term consequences
• complexity of liability
The more severe the injuries and the more serious the consequences, the higher the potential compensation. That is why legal help is vital – an experienced lawyer knows how to settle for fair compensation and to protect you from the quick, but inadequate, offers that insurance companies often offer.
How Insurance Coverage Impacts Your Settlement
Insurance plays a key role in determining how much you can recover after an accident, but it is rarely simple. In California, trucking companies are legally required to have a certain level of insurance depending on the capacity of the vehicle. For example:
Seating Capacity / Minimum Coverage Required
• 7 or less / $750,000
• 8 to 15 / $1,500,000
• 16 or more / $5,000,000
These amounts represent the minimum, but it does not mean that the insurance will pay them off easily. Trucking companies and their insurers use aggressive legal teams to minimize your payout regardless of the damage you have suffered.
What further complicates the situation?
• There are often multiple insurance policies involved – the truck company’s insurance, the driver’s personal insurance, and even the insurance of the company that ordered the shipment (such as Amazon, FedEx, etc.).
• Each of these insurance companies has an interest in reducing its share of the payout.
• Some carriers quickly offer large settlements to avoid litigation and protect their reputation but the offer often does not cover all your real losses, especially the long-term damages.
So it is crucial that you hire a Los Angeles big rig accident lawyer who specializes in major truck accidents, who understands all the pitfalls of such cases. Our experienced personal injury lawyer at Bojat Law Group knows how to identify all relevant insurance policies and include any insurance company that may be liable for payment.
Common Injuries in 18 Wheeler Accidents
Victims of a collision with an 18 wheeler accident. commonly experience:
• broken bones,
• head/brain injuries,
• whiplash, and
• internal damage
Traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and broken bones are frequent injuries related to semi truck accidents, trucking accident, and truck accident claims.
The force of an 18 wheeler accident often causes fractures, particularly in limbs and ribs. Severe injuries can lead to extensive medical treatment, long-term rehabilitation, and diminished quality of life.
Key Factors That Affect Your 18 Wheeler Accident Settlement
Several factors influence settlement amounts after an 18 wheeler accident. They include the severity of injuries, fault and liability, and medical expenses. Specifics like fatalities or serious injuries, as well as the accident’s location, also play crucial roles due to varying state laws and their effect on insurance payouts.
Higher insurance coverage often results in more funds available for damages, significantly influencing truck accident settlement outcomes. Compensation may include both economic and non-economic damages, depending on the case. An experienced truck accident attorney can ensure fair compensation and navigate the complex legal process.
Let’s delve into each factor, beginning with the severity of more severe injuries sustained.
Severity of Injuries
The severity of injuries is a major factor affecting compensation amounts after a truck accident. Severe injuries lead to higher compensation, while minor injuries result in lower amounts. Common severe injuries resulting from accidents include spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and fatalities, all of which significantly impact compensation. Truck accident settlement amounts for serious injury cases in 18 wheeler accidents typically range from $500,000 to $1 million, while catastrophic injuries can settle for $1 million to several million dollars, including trucking accident claims.
Factors that increase compensation amounts in truck accidents include higher medical expenses, longer recovery times, and the presence of potential permanent disabilities. These injuries often require extensive medical treatment and long-term care, further driving up the settlement amounts.
Liability and Fault
Grasping the intricacies of liability, including the involvement of multiple parties and responsible parties, is key to ensuring fair compensation in truck accident cases. Clear liability is crucial to establish liability for maximizing recovery, especially when parties involved may be at fault.
Fault is determined by examining truck driver negligence and violations of trucking regulations. Evidence such as police reports, witness statements, and dashcam footage is typically used to establish fault. Collecting meticulous evidence is essential to proving liability.
Medical Expenses
Medical bills, additional operations, treatment, rehabilitation, and travel costs to appointments are considered when calculating settlements. Examples include surgeries, hospital stays, medications, physical therapy, assistive devices, and home modifications. Documenting medical expenses is crucial for reimbursement in a personal injury cases claim.
Emergency medical treatment, rehabilitation costs, and future medical care significantly influence the compensation amount. Long-term rehabilitation costs can further increase the settlement value.
Types of Damages You Can Claim
Victims can claim various types of damages, including economic and non-economic. Economic damages cover medical bills, lost income, and future medical expenses based on injury severity. Higher insurance coverage from trucking companies can result in more substantial compensation.
Non-economic damages include pain and suffering, compensating for emotional distress and loss of enjoyment of life. Claiming both types of damages ensures fair compensation.
Economic Damages
Medical expenses include hospital bills, rehabilitation, and medication costs. Internal injuries can lead to serious health complications requiring immediate medical intervention. Documenting all medical treatments and related medical costs is essential to support a claim, as insurance companies may scrutinize injury severity.
Economic damages refer to financial losses from an 18 wheeler accident, including medical expenses, lost wages, earning capacity, and property damage. Victims can claim lost wages and seek compensation for property damage.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages include disfigurement, disability, and pain and suffering. They address subjective losses, such as emotional suffering and reduced quality of life. Pain and suffering encompasses emotional distress and loss of enjoyment of life.
Burns and lacerations may necessitate reconstructive surgery and result in significant emotional trauma. Psychological injuries, such as PTSD, may require therapy and can deeply affect daily life, especially when dealing with life changing injuries.
Steps to Take After an 18 Wheeler Accident
Immediate actions post-accident greatly influence your chances of receiving compensation. Calling 911, ensuring safety of yourself and everyone involved, gathering evidence, such as accident reports and eyewitness accounts, can significantly impact settlement speed. Engaging a skilled attorney early can streamline the process and expedite resolutions.
Insurance companies often deploy immediate investigators to gather evidence and build a defense, sometimes before victims are aware of the accident’s implications. Accident reconstruction experts can assist attorneys in representing victims in court if settlement negotiations fall short. Legal experts navigate intricate trucking regulations, ensuring compliance and strengthening claims.
Seek Immediate Medical Attention
After you make sure you are in a safe place, immediate medical attention is critical after being hit by a truck, as the injuries may not be immediately apparent. It documents injuries effectively, helps establish claims, and prevents further complications, ensuring the best possible recovery outcome.
Prioritize seeking medical help to safeguard your health and support your claim.
Gather Evidence at the Scene
Collecting photographs and witness statements is vital for strengthening your claim. Attorneys can gather crucial evidence, such as driver logs and maintenance records, essential for building a strong case.
Contact a Skilled Truck Accident Lawyer
Hiring a personal injury lawyer specializing in truck accidents is crucial to navigate the legal process effectively in a truck accident case. Victims should find the right truck accident lawyers to protect their rights and improve their chances of compensation. Our skilled truck accident attorney can negotiate with insurance companies, gather necessary evidence, and ensure compliance with legal standards.
When choosing a lawyer for 18-wheeler accidents, consider their reputation and experience. Engaging a knowledgeable lawyer from Bojat Law Group improves the likelihood of securing a favorable settlement.
How Long Does It Take to Settle a Truck Accident Claim?
Sadly, there is no quick answer to this question, since each accident has its own specifics. . If the case is straightforward – for example, liability is clear and the injuries are minor – a settlement can be reached within a few months. But in more serious cases, where there are severe injuries, long-term consequences, or multiple liable parties, the process can easily stretch to a year or longer. If your case goes to trial, be prepared for even more time – often between 18 and 24 months.
Although everyone wants a “quick resolution,” experience shows that the best settlements take time. A good attorney won’t rush to close the case before all the consequences of the accident are fully assessed – from immediate costs to long-term impacts on your life.
How Can Los Angeles Big Rig Accident Lawyer Help
After a big rig accident, you may think that it is enough to file an insurance claim and wait for payment. But the reality is quite different. Transportation companies and their lawyers take immediate action with one goal in mind: to pay you as little as possible. That’s why you need a lawyer who knows all their tricks and can play at the same level.
What exactly do we do?
• First, we don’t rely solely on the police record we send our own investigators to secure irrefutable evidence, including truck black box data, vehicle maintenance reports, and witnesses.
• We analyze the whole chain of responsibility because it’s often not just the driver who is at fault, but also the company that pressured him to drive tired, or the company that didn’t properly maintain the truck.
• We don’t take “quick deals” because we know that the insurance company throws in low numbers first in hopes that you’ll take them quickly. It’s our job to negotiate smartly and aggressively until you get what you really deserve.
• If there is no fair settlement, we take the case to court, ready to defend your rights to the end.
• We handle everything behind the scenes—from paperwork to deadlines—so you can focus on what matters most: your recovery.
Truck accidents can turn your life upside down but you don’t have to face the aftermath alone. At Bojat Law Group our mission is to fight for every dollar you deserve compensation that truly reflects everything you’ve lost and everything you’ll need moving forward.
Facing the aftermath of an 18-wheeler accident? Don’t settle for less than you deserve. Our experienced legal team specializes in navigating complex truck accident claims to ensure you receive full and fair compensation. Schedule an appointment today at (954) 709-5276 or find our IG here.
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Reference: [https://www.hg.org/legal-articles/how-much-compensation-can-you-expect-if-an-18-wheeler-hits-you-69312]