Getting plowed into by a semi-truck is one of the most horrendous accidents anyone can experience. You may have suffered severe injuries, and your car could be totaled.
While money will not heal your injuries, it will pay for your medical bills and repair or replacement for your car, while helping to sustain you during your recovery period. You may be wondering what the average settlement for a semi-truck accident may be.
There is nothing average about a semi-truck accident. Each accident is different and what you can recover depends upon the circumstances of that accident. Contact a personal injury lawyer familiar with semi-truck accidents to help you receive proper compensation.
Hiring an Experienced Semi-Truck Accident Attorney
The need for an experienced legal team stems from what could be a complicated case. Morris Bart attorneys have the knowledge and experience to file your legal case and, if needed, represent you in court.
Get a Free Initial Consultation
Before a lawyer accepts your case, they want to evaluate the facts. Morris Bart lawyers offer a free consultation to potential clients. If you cannot make it to the office, we will come to you. Be ready to share any evidence you have including:
- The date, time, and location of the accident
- The name of the truck driver and information about their employer
- Your written or verbal recollection of the accident
- A copy of the police report if you have one
- The name and numbers of witnesses
- The name and contact information of your doctor
- Copies of your medical records and bills resulting from the accident
If our Morris Bart attorney confirms the validity of your case, and you agree to hire them, our legal team will work to thoroughly investigate your accident. The results of that investigation will determine and prove fault to aid in getting you the proper compensation.
Dealing with Insurance Companies
In addition, let your lawyer handle the insurance companies. If someone from an insurance company contacts you directly, refrain from talking with them. Tell them to contact your attorney.
Insurance company representatives are notorious for trying to get you to agree to a settlement much lower than you need and can receive. Don’t take the bait. Let your lawyer deal with them.
For a free legal consultation, call (800) 537-8185
The Cost of Your Injuries
If you had no responsibility in the accident, you should be able to receive compensation for all your medical bills. Depending upon your injuries it could take years for you to recover, if ever. Some expenses you can expect to receive compensation for include:
- Emergency department services
- Emergency transportation
- Laboratory tests, x-rays, MRIs
- Hospitalization
- Surgery
- In-facility rehabilitation
- In-home health care
- Out-patient therapy and rehabilitation
- Follow-up doctor visits
Other types of damages you can recover include:
- Lost wages
- Future loss of income
- Retraining for a new career if you cannot return to your old job
- Repairs or replacement of your vehicle
Beyond these reimbursable types of damages, you can look for compensation for damages that do not have a price tag. Your accident attorney will consult former cases to aid in applying a figurative amount for damages such as:
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Loss of quality of life
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional anguish and psychological issues
- Loss of companionship
Who Can Be Held Accountable?
Unlike a two-car accident when the responsible driver may be the only one accountable, in a semi-truck accident, you can look to more than just the driver for compensation. Your lawyer will be looking for information regarding:
- Who performed regular maintenance of the truck?
- When was the last routine maintenance done?
- Had there been previous performance issues with the truck?
- Who was responsible for loading the cargo?
- Was the driver working overtime?
These issues and others could lead to partial responsibility of the driver’s employer, the company whose cargo they were hauling, or the truck’s maintenance crew.
Click to contact our personal injury lawyers today
What If You Lost a Family Member in a Semi-Truck Accident?
If a member of your immediate family, a spouse, parent, or child, died in a semi-truck accident, you have rights. A family member can file a wrongful death claim, or in some cases, the trustee of the decedent’s will may need to file.
Immediate family members can seek compensation such as:
- Final medical expenses of the decedent
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of financial support
- Loss of emotional support
- Loss of companionship
A wrongful death case can be complicated. Your lost loved one no longer has a voice. You need the help of an attorney well-versed in truck accidents and wrongful death cases. Morris Bart can help.
There Are Time Limits to Filing Your Legal Claim
There are different time frames for filing a semi-truck accident legal claim. In Arkansas, for example, you have up to three years following an accident to file. However, in Louisiana, you only have one year.
There are a few exceptions to your state’s statute of limitations. A local personal injury lawyer who is familiar with state laws and its judicial system will understand such exceptions and assure that your paperwork is filed within the appropriate time limits.
How Long Can a Settlement Take?
Once the paperwork is filed, negotiating a settlement can be a long, drawn-out process. Your attorney will be fighting to get you as much compensation as possible. The defendant’s team, including the insurance adjuster, will be fighting to pay as little as possible.
While traffic accident cases rarely end up in court, it is possible that if the defendant’s lawyer does not meet your expectations for a settlement, your case will go to court. That decision is yours. If you feel you deserve more than they are willing to settle for and your attorney feels you may get it awarded in the courtroom, you could take the case to a judge or jury trial.
Why Call Morris Bart?
If you live or had an accident in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, or Arkansas, choose Morris Bart. Our attorneys work in more than a dozen offices across the south and our results speak for our abilities.
Like you, we live in various towns and cities here. We are pleased to be able to help our neighbors fight for their rights and proper compensation. We are waiting to hear from you. Contact Morris Bart today!
Questions?Call (800) 537-8185
to find a Morris Bart office near you.
