While how much your truck wreck claim is worth may be one of your burning questions, not even an experienced truck accident attorney cannot give you a precise number. That is because each crash is unique, and many factors can affect the value of your case.
Factors That May Influence the Value of Your Truck Crash Settlement
You can get a sense of how much you will receive from the trucker and trucking company by understanding factors that can affect your claim’s value. Your lawyer will most likely use these factors to give you an idea of what you can expect to receive. Here are some of what influences how much your case is worth:
- Your damages. The amount of compensation that you may be entitled to will have a large effect on the value of your claim. In Virginia, you should be compensated for your past and future medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other out-of-pocket expenses. The amount that you are owed may be substantial because the injuries caused by commercial truck accidents versus those just involving passenger vehicles tend to be so severe.
- Liability. You have the burden of proving the trucker’s and trucking company’s negligence in causing your injuries in order to be entitled to any compensation. When your evidence of negligence is strong, this will increase the value of your claim because it will be harder for the insurance company to dispute the liability of its insured.
- Your negligence. Your partial negligence in causing the accident can have a dramatic effect on your claim’s value. Virginia has a harsh contributory negligence law that prevents you from obtaining any compensation if you were at all to blame for your injuries. Legitimate disputes about your fault can reduce the strength and value of your case. However, an attorney who has handled many of these cases will have strategies to deal with issues of your own fault.
- Severity of your injuries. If you suffered more serious injuries or one that caused a permanent disability, this can increase the value of your claim because your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering damages will be more. If you suffered a catastrophic injury, such as traumatic brain injury, amputation, or paralysis, you may be entitled to damages to compensate you throughout your life. Unfortunately, long-term injuries are common in these cases.
What Should You Do to Ensure That You Receive What You Deserve in Your Truck Collision Case?
Retaining an experienced truck accident attorney soon after your collision is the best way to be certain that you receive the compensation that you are entitled to from the at-fault truck driver and trucking company. To learn of our track record of success in these cases and how these factors influence the value of your claim, call our Norfolk office to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation today.
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