What Are the Worth Factors in a Truck Accident Case?

Unfortunately, semi-truck accidents are not uncommon on our roads. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that in 2020 alone, large trucks accounted for 9% of all fatal wrecks and 5% of all motor vehicles involved in injury crashes. These numbers are even more distressing when you know such crashes could have been prevented.

If you’ve been involved in a truck accident, you know that tractor-trailer crashes can result in significant medical expenses and other damages. You should learn as much as possible about filing an insurance claim and a personal injury lawsuit. Knowing how much you can get from a semi-truck accident is critical as well.

Each case is unique, and a truck accident lawyer from Nix Patterson will help you understand the worth factors in your truck accident case. Working with a team that has decades of experience and a track record of recovering billions for our clients, you can be confident your truck accident claim will be in the best hands. 

What Should You Do After a Semi-Truck Accident

Semi-truck accidents are some of the most traumatic and stressful experiences. After being in a crash involving a large truck, it’s common to feel anxious and overwhelmed. You are probably wondering what your rights are and what steps to take to protect them. The Nix Patterson truck accident attorneys suggest you take the following steps immediately after a semi-truck crash:

1. Stay at the scene
2. Check for injuries
3. Contact the police
4. Seek medical attention
5. Gather evidence at the scene
6. Do not admit fault
7. Seek legal representation

Insurance Policy Limits on Truck Accident Settlements

One of the main factors affecting how much your truck accident case is worth is the insurance policy limit. This limit is the maximum amount you can obtain in an insurance claim after a wreck. Truck accident lawyers help crash victims get justice by suing liable parties, including the trucking company. But first, they will follow through with an insurance claim before filing a lawsuit.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) oversees and regulates the commercial motor vehicle industry, including dictating minimum insurance requirements that operators and owners must carry. Commercial auto liability insurance is one of the most important coverages required by the FMCSA.

Commercial auto liability covers truck accidents that result in injury to another person or damage to their property, and the truck driver or the trucking company is found responsible. The minimum requirements for commercial liability insurance that a trucking company or owner must have are determined by the type of cargo they haul. For example:

• Trucks weighing under 10,001 pounds carrying non-hazardous goods: $300,000
• Trucks weighing over 10,001 pounds hauling non-hazardous cargo: $750,000
• Private and for-hire oil carriers: $1,000,000
• Carriers of other hazardous materials: $5,000,000

Damages in Semi-truck Accident Cases

Most states, including Texas and Oklahoma, recognize that severely injured victims of tractor-trailer crashes may find that their medical costs, lost income, and other injury-related losses far exceed insurance policy limits. For this reason, in addition to filing an insurance claim, truck accident victims can file personal injury lawsuits against the parties responsible for the accident and their losses.

Compensatory damages may be available to truck accident victims who sustain injuries because of another party’s reckless, intentional, or negligent omissions or actions. Compensatory damages include economic losses — accident-related losses with a monetary value — and non-economic damages, which include accident-related losses without a monetary value.

Examples of possible damages that could be recovered in a truck accident lawsuit include the following:

• Medical bills
• Lost wages
• Property damage
• Diminished earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Disfigurement
• Disability
• Reduced quality of life
• Mental anguish

Factors That Determine Truck Accident Settlement Amounts

Semi-truck crashes leave behind immense physical, emotional, and financial damage, and it’s common for victims to have questions such as “How much can I get from a semi-truck accident?” How much a big rig accident case is worth will depend on various factors, making it hard to provide an exact settlement or verdict figure for your case. Some worth factors in a truck accident case include:

Liability 

Liability is a major factor in determining a truck accident’s settlement and verdict amounts. Liability determines who was responsible for causing the crash. State liability laws, including contributory and comparative fault rules, impact how much you can get from your truck accident case. 

If you shared responsibility for the accident, your case’s worth might be reduced, or you might be barred from receiving any compensation, depending on the state where the accident occurred.

The Type and Extent of Injuries Sustained

Another crucial factor that affects how much you can get in your semi-truck accident is the nature, duration, and severity of injuries sustained. Typically, as the severity of injuries increases, so does the value of your truck accident case. For example, the value of a truck accident involving a traumatic brain injury (TBI) or other catastrophic injuries might be higher than that of a case involving a minor injury.

The Severity of the Crash and Its Impact on Your Life

Another significant factor that affects the worth of a truck accident is the severity of the crash and its impact on your life. How did the collision affect your life? How did the accident impact your ability to return to work? Did you suffer significant pain and suffering? Generally, the more severe the crash and its implications on your life, the higher the worth of your truck accident case.

Other factors that impact the worth of tractor-trailer accidents include:

• The quality of evidence
• The amount of property damage
• Out-of-pocket expenses
• Age of the injured party
• Occupation of the injured party

Contact Nix Patterson Today

After a serious truck accident, you may wonder what to do next next. Protect your legal rights and get answers to your questions after a semi-truck accident by contacting Nix Patterson today for a 100% free consultation. 

We have served truck accident victims for decades. Our lawyers understand how big rig accidents can be extremely damaging, so we will fight aggressively to ensure you get the justice you deserve. 

Get started now by contacting us online or calling 512-328-5333 to understand your legal options better.