How Much is Your Truck Accident Case Worth?

It is understandable that many truck accident victims wonder how much their claim is worth after a crash. Truck accidents cause life-changing injuries, and injured individuals typically require a significant amount of compensation afterward. If you have been hurt in a truck accident, no one can say with exact certainty how much your claim is worth without first examining the facts of your case. However, below are a few guidelines you can use to estimate the amount of damages you deserve.

Medical Expenses

Medical expenses typically make up the bulk of personal injury cases. You deserve the full amount of compensation for medical expenses, including ambulance costs, emergency care, and long-term treatments. Prior to claiming your medical expenses, it is crucial to understand the severity of your injuries and how much they will cost you over your lifetime.

Lost Wages

Truck accidents typically cause the worst injuries on the road and it is likely that you will have to take some time off work to recover from them. You can include the lost income within your claim, as well as any bonuses, paid vacation or sick time, and other benefits you did not receive as a result of the accident. If the injuries are so severe that you can never return to the same line of work, and therefore will not earn the same income, you can also claim loss of future earning capacity.

Other Economic Damages

While medical expenses and lost wages are two of the most common types of economic damages, you will have likely sustained other economic losses, as well. If you cannot perform simple daily tasks, such as going grocery shopping or maintaining your home, you can also claim the cost of services related to these tasks. Child care, transportation costs to and from treatment, and long-term care are other types of economic damages that may apply to your claim.

Non-Economic Damages

Unlike economic damages, non-economic damages do not have a concrete dollar value, so they are more difficult to calculate. Non-economic damages include losses such as pain and suffering and emotional distress. Although these are not physical injuries, they are still a loss for which you deserve compensation. If you have suffered a permanent disability or disfigurement, you can also claim this loss.

Punitive Damages

Punitive damages are not always awarded in truck accident cases. However, if the negligent party showed wanton disregard for your safety, punitive damages may be awarded. For example, if the truck driver was drunk at the time of the crash, that is grossly negligent behavior and so, you may receive punitive damages that increase the amount of your claim.

Our Illinois Truck Accident Lawyers can Accurately Evaluate Your Claim

Truck accident claims are complex, and fairly valuing them is just one challenge they present. If you have been in a truck accident and need a fair evaluation of your case, call our Rockford truck accident lawyers today. At Brassfield & Krueger, Ltd., we will review your case during a free consultation and identify all the losses you have sustained so you recover maximum damages. Call us today or contact us online to speak to one of our skilled attorneys.