Truck accident settlements and verdicts vary depending on the nature of the accident, the involvement of multiple parties, state-specific laws, and other factors. If you are suffering from losses caused by a truck accident, you can pursue a fair settlement.
If this sounds like you or a family member, then our lawyers can defend your legal rights while pursuing various forms of financial compensation you may be able to recover from your truck accident.
Factors That Affect Truck Accident Settlements and Verdicts
An accident settlement is based on how the accident impacts you. You may hear damages broken into two categories called:
- Economic damages: These are monetary losses.
- Noneconomic damages: These damages are intangible losses that have a calculated value.
When negotiating truck accident settlements, insurers and lawyers will review:
- Disabilities and injuries: You may face short- or long-term injuries or even permanent physical health issues. The severity of your injuries will impact your compensation.
- Lost wages and income: If the truck accident prevents you from making money while you recover, or if you cannot return to your old job, our team will count these losses when seeking payment.
- Medical expenses: All expenses related to your medical treatment from the truck accident are factors in a settlement.
- Timeline of treatments: The length of your treatment or recovery can impact when we settle and how much we can seek.
Additionally, settlements and verdicts often look at the number of liable parties involved in an accident. Insurance policy limits and standards also enter the picture to add another layer to a verdict. Policies will often analyze the roles of all relevant parties while also considering the cumulative economic damages of an accident.
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Local Laws and Statutes Related to Truck Accidents
Truck accident settlements and verdicts are often quite complex and involve state and local laws. If you connect with our legal team after an accident, you do not have to worry about balancing all these legal considerations.
The statute of limitations in CC Art. 2315.2 details how victims have a limited time to take legal action after an accident that results in wrongful death in Louisiana. If you lost a loved one in an accident, you have up to one year to take action.
A separate statute of limitations, CC Art. 3492, applies to accidents that result in personal injuries. The one-year time limit also applies.
Defining Actions That Establish Liable Parties
As data from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) shows, in 2018 alone, there were more than 4,500 fatal crashes that involved a large truck or bus. Truck accidents are also a significant problem in Louisiana. According to research data presented by the Center for Analytics & Research in Transportation Safety (CARTS), there were nearly 4,000 accidents involving commercial vehicles in Louisiana in 2020.
When a carrier fails to abide by federal safety guidelines and protocols, they may be held liable for an accident and the subsequent damages experienced by a victim. Drunk driving, drowsy driving, distracted driving, speeding, and drug impairment are common factors in accidents involving trucks and other large vehicles.
These kinds of reckless driving behaviors are typically grounds for one or more parties taking on liability and responsibility for the damage they cause. However, several details such as specific laws and insurance policies can dramatically impact the direction of a claim and a verdict.
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Handling Correspondence After a Truck Accident
Commercial vehicle carriers may carry complex insurance policies that may prove difficult to navigate for an individual victim. With our lawyers advocating for your position, you will not have to communicate with another driver, insurance agent, or anyone else related to the incident.
Instead, our lawyers will lead all correspondence with other parties on your behalf. As our legal team collects a complete story of the accident, they will handle witness testimonies and communications as needed.
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Assessing Damages and Pursuing Potential Settlement Awards
Our team will collect various forms of evidence to create a complete version of events. Common types of evidence include:
- Photos of the accident scene and/or your injuries
- Video footage
- Police reports
- Witness accounts
When you work with us on a truck accident case, you can expect consistent communication and updates on the workings of your situation.
See How a Truck Accident Attorney Can Help Today
At Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers, our team of attorneys is here to untangle the legal process on your behalf. You do not have to accept an insurer’s offer if the payout seems unfair. A truck accident settlement or verdict should help you, so let us take this burden off your shoulders.
We will work diligently to hold any responsible parties liable for the damage and suffering they create. To learn more about how we can serve you after a truck accident, call our office today at (337) 777-7777 for a free consultation.
Call or text 337-221-9907 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
