Back November 19, 2019

What is My Truck Accident Claim Worth?

The value of a truck accident claim depends upon a variety of different factors, including the severity of the accident, the amount of damage involved, and the nature and extent of the injuries suffered. Truck accidents can lead to serious conditions, including head injuries, spinal cord injuries and paralysis, soft tissue injuries, and broken bones. In the most serious truck accidents, one or more of the involved drivers and/or their passengers could be killed.

The reasons why truck accidents lead to serious injuries is not hard to understand. After all, large semi-trucks, big rigs, and tractor-trailers are many times larger than the average passenger vehicle. When one of these large vehicles collides with a sedan or some other small vehicle, it could cause the vehicle to overturn or collide with another vehicle, leading to serious injuries. 

If you have been injured in a truck crash or any other type of accident, our Matthews personal injury lawyers at Biazzo & Panchenko are ready to help. We take on tough injury cases on behalf of injured clients, so please do not hesitate to reach out and learn more today.

How Truck Accidents Occur

Serious truck accidents can involve a variety of large vehicles, such as box trucks, tractor-trailers, big rigs, tanker trucks, and semis. In many instances, these accidents occur when a driver engages in careless or reckless driving or otherwise fails to pay attention to the road. Some of the most common causes of truck accidents include the following:

• Negligent or reckless driving – Negligent truck driving can include weaving in and out of traffic, failing to obey the rules of the road, or driving in excess of the speed limit, as examples. 
• Driving too fast for the weather conditions – Truck drivers are often in a hurry to get to their final destinations. Driving too fast in rain or other adverse weather could cause the truck to slide or hydroplane, potentially resulting in a collision with another vehicle. 
• Distracted driving – Distracted driving typically occurs when a truck driver is preoccupied with a GPS, cell phone, or another electronic device, and he or she pays too much attention to the device, rather than to the roadway. 
• Improper cargo loading procedures – When truck drivers and cargo loaders fail to abide by federal motor carrier regulations, including abiding by load limits and procedures, any unsecured cargo could dislodge from the trailer and lead to a serious collision. 

Factors Impacting the Value of a Truck Accident Claim

There are many different factors that can have an impact on the value of a truck accident claim. Some of those factors include the following:

• The amount of property damage sustained – Even though property damage does not directly correlate with physical injuries, it can still have an impact on a truck accident claim – especially when photographs of the damage are available. When photographs depict severe property damage in an accident, the overall value of the claim typically increases, since it is perceived by the insurance company as a more serious collision. 
• The types of injuries and medical treatment received – Generally speaking, the more serious the accident victim’s injuries, the larger the value of the claim. When the accident causes injuries that result in the need for surgery, those injuries are typically more compensable than soft tissue injuries, such as muscle strains and sprains. 
• Whether the accident victim suffered a permanent injury in the collision – When a health care provider is willing to state that an accident victim suffered a permanent injury in a truck accident, the claim will likely have more value than in cases where no permanency opinion is rendered. 

Even if you can prove that another party was liable for your crash, you are still required to demonstrate the extent of your losses to justify the damages you are seeking in your claim.

Speak with Our Matthews Personal Injury Lawyers Today

The law firm of Biazzo & Panchenko can help you pursue compensation for your truck accident injuries today. Our legal team can negotiate with the truck driver or trucking company’s insurer on your behalf and attempt to negotiate a favorable settlement of your claim. If the insurance company is unwilling to fully and fairly compensate you for your injuries, litigation – including trial – is always an option to consider. 

To schedule a free case evaluation with our Matthews personal injury lawyers, please call us at 704-761-6817 or contact us online to learn more.