Truck accidents happen more often than they should, bringing property damage, severe injury, and financial burden. After a truck accident, you may be wondering, How much is my truck accident worth? Fortunately, our California truck accident attorneys can help answer that question for you.
What Makes Car Accidents and Truck Accidents Different?
Many believe car and truck accidents are similar. On the contrary, truck accidents are unlike car accidents for a variety of reasons. Truck accidents are handled differently, other types of factors play a role in recovery, and truck cases are more challenging.
Trucks Cause More Injury and Property Damage
Because of a truck’s enormous size, they are far more capable of causing severe injuries and major damage than a passenger vehicle. Remember that force = mass x acceleration. Trucks have greater mass, which means they exert stronger force against other vehicles. The greater the severity of injuries and property damage, the greater the chance of a higher settlement.
Trucks Typically Carry Higher Insurance Policies
Trucks, because of their size and capacity for causing damage, require higher insurance policies. Therefore, insurance companies will do anything possible to limit liability or avoid paying altogether. Going up against these insurance companies can often come with many challenges. Sometimes the trucking company may not have insurance on some of their trucks, which creates even more challenges and work.
There May Be More Than One Liable Party
Truck accidents are complex for many reasons, one of them being liability. Truck accidents may not be caused solely by a driver, as many other parties can hold some level of responsibility. These include:
- The trucking company;
- The company or individual responsible for truck maintenance; and
- The manufacturer of the truck parts.
Determining liability is one of the trickiest but most important parts of a truck accident case.
What You Do Immediately Following Your Truck Accident Can Impact the Value of Your Case
What you do after your truck accident can play a significant role in your case. Keep these steps in mind after a semi-truck accident.
Call 911
The first thing you should do after your truck accident is call 911. If you or your passengers are injured, request medical help. Police and an ambulance will be dispatched to the scene.
Seek Medical Attention
If your accident results in injuries, be sure to accept treatment at the scene of the accident. Even if you don’t believe you’ve suffered any significant injuries, it is still wise to visit your doctor as soon as possible after an accident.
While some injuries may be evident immediately following your accident, some may require some days to surface. Allowing a doctor to examine you may result in the discovery of injuries otherwise unknown. Equally as important is following all medical advice regarding treatment or medications, as your medical records will reflect every detail of your care. Your attorney will use these medical records for your case.
Collect Evidence
If possible, try to collect as much evidence as possible at the scene of the accident. Relevant evidence can include:
- Pictures and videos,
- Witness information,
- The truck driver’s information, and
- The trucking company details.
As your claim progresses, other information will also become important, like medical records, expense records pertaining to your accident, and proof of lost income.
Contact a California Truck Accident Attorney
Many make the mistake of believing they can handle a truck accident easily. Not consulting with a truck accident lawyer can result in financial loss. Be sure to discuss your case with an attorney as soon as you can.
What Factors Help Determine the Value of Your Truck Accident Claim?
Many factors come together to give your case a monetary value. Some of the most critical factors that affect the value of your claim include:
- The severity of your injuries,
- Medical expenses,
- Property damage,
- Lost wages, and
- Who is liable for the accident.
No two accident cases are the same. A truck accident attorney can review the details of your case and help determine what factors will affect your case, working diligently to get you the compensation you deserve.
Damages Available for California Truck Accident Cases
There are two types of damages available for truck accident victims in California: economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages are out-of-pocket expenses easily proven with relevant documentation. These can include:
- Medical expenses,
- Lost wages, and
- Loss of earning capacity.
Non-economic damages, on the other hand, provide compensation for damages that are not necessarily financial. These include:
- Pain and suffering,
- Mental and emotional anguish, and
- Loss of companionship.
Damages can be difficult to calculate, but your California truck accident lawyer will calculate the appropriate damages owed to you.
Contact a California Truck Accident Lawyer Today
Don’t handle your truck accident case alone. An attorney can be an invaluable ally, working tirelessly to get you the outcome you deserve.
Wells Call Injury Lawyers has been helping injured clients since 1984. We proudly offer our services in six cities across the State of California, giving us the ability to support a multitude of clients. Our team strives to be easily accessible to our clients, giving them peace of mind knowing their case is in the best hands. We are thoroughly committed to our clients and seeking justice on their behalf. Our firm offers free case reviews. Contact us today, and let’s begin working on your case.