How Much Financial Compensation Is Available to Families After a Catastrophic Accident With an 18-Wheeler?
In a minor accident with a negligent driver, calculating the financial compensation you need for what happened to you might be as simple as looking at the total cost of your medical treatment and days off work. However, when someone is catastrophically injured or killed by a commercial truck, calculating the worth of a claim becomes much more difficult. In many cases, families are left trying to put a price tag on a life-altering injury or the permanent loss of a loved one’s support—and that task can seem impossible. This is why the best way to get answers about the worth of a serious injury claim is to talk to a personal injury attorney who has hands-on experience with truck accident victims and their families.
Understanding How Catastrophic Tractor-Trailer Accident Claims Are Valued
There is no sure-fire “formula” for calculating what your claim is worth, and there are no guarantees that your family will receive what you truly deserve for what happened in the wreck. However, by taking a look at the details and specifics with a highly experienced attorney, you can get a better idea of the kinds of financial compensation available to you and what it might take to fight for it from the trucking company’s insurance company. These kinds of claims are generally valued by adding up:
- Past and current medical expenses
- Predicted future medical expenses
- Past, current, and future mental health care
- Lost wages and loss of future earning capacity
- Emotional damages, pain, and suffering
- Other losses directly related to a loved one’s injuries or death
A dollar amount may be clear for some expenses related to an accident, but putting a value on the experience and impact of a tragedy isn’t as clear. If a loved one died because of the accident or has been left permanently disabled, the course of your family’s future has changed—and the law recognizes this by allowing financial damages for the loss of the victim’s support, future earnings, companionship, and parenting. While compensation for emotional and future consequences of a catastrophic truck wreck may figure into your claim, you will need to understand how to support your claim and succeed. Unfortunately, the nature of the process does not make this easy on families.
How the Nature of the Insurance Industry Can Take Away From the Victims of Commercial Truck Accidents
Insurance companies and the companies that own and operate large trucks are prepared to defend against claims from victims, even when those victims have legitimate injuries caused by negligence. Most companies that have trucks on the road or handle truck insurance claims also have teams of attorneys and adjusters ready to respond to an accident and minimize the potential financial losses for their employers. Victims sometimes have to go through seemingly extreme measures—working with attorneys, economic experts, medical experts, and others—in order to “prove” that they deserve compensation for what happened and determine how much that should be in practical terms.
Although these companies are not specifically attempting to further victimize the victims of accidents, the nature of this process means that families have to be very careful about:
- What they say
- What they sign
- What they accept or agree to
Even steps that seem minor can have a big impact on the final worth of your claim, so it’s important to get informed. If you’re unsure how to work with the insurance company, or if you or a loved one suffered extremely serious injuries in the accident, don’t make guesses about your claim. Contact an attorney of your own choosing as soon as possible, and start booking up on your rights and options for moving forward.
Getting Help Understanding How Much Your Family’s Injury Claim for a Truck Accident Might Be Worth
If you need answers and an honest evaluation of your family’s claim, contact our law office directly at 312-332-1400. Our attorneys have focused experience helping the victims of catastrophic accidents, and we offer a completely free and confidential case review for Illinois residents who have questions about their legal rights to compensation. This review will help you understand what your claim might be worth, what to expect from the legal process, what your rights really are, and how to protect yourself. Don’t wait any longer—real help and support are only a phone call away.
