How much a truck accident settlement is worth depends on the severity and extent of the accident victim’s losses. Your medical costs and property damages may comprise a significant portion of your compensation. Personal injury settlements may also include financial awards for lost income, lost earning capacity, pain and suffering, and reductions to your quality of life.
Because damages differ on a case-by-case basis, there is no universal answer or estimate for how much a Columbus truck accident settlement is worth. However, a Columbus personal injury lawyer can review your losses, determine a fair settlement range for your case, and pursue the maximum available compensation.
Recoverable Damages in an Ohio Truck Accident Case
It may help to think of truck accident damages as the financial compensation needed to get the victim as close as possible to where they were physically and financially before the accident occurred. You could qualify for economic damages, which are actual quantifiable costs, and non-economic damages, which include losses related to your pain and suffering.
Depending on the nature of the accident, the recoverable damages in a personal injury case may include:
- Current medical treatment expenses
- The costs of future care, rehabilitation, or therapy
- Lost income or wages, including lowered earning potential
- Property damages, particularly damage to your vehicle
- Pain and suffering, including emotional trauma and mental anguish
- Permanent or temporary physical disability
- Permanent or temporary intellectual disability
- Scarring or disfiguring marks
- Overall reduced quality of life
- Compensation for the wrongful death of a loved one
Because of the many variables involved, how much a truck accident settlement is worth can range widely from case to case. To estimate the value of your economic and non-economic damages, a truck accident lawyer with our firm can:
- Call on medical or economic experts
- Review bills or receipts for expenses related to your accident
- Estimate how much money you may spend on future medical treatment
- Estimate the value of your future lost wages and lost earning capacity
- Speak to your family or friends about how the accident has affected you physically, mentally, and emotionally.
What Can You Do to Increase Your Chances of a Successful Truck Accident Settlement?
Securing compensation from a negligent truck driver, the trucking company they work for, or another liable party usually involves filing an insurance claim. When working with the at-fault party’s insurers, it is important you do not give them a reason to deny your claim, blame you for the accident, or allege your injuries did not occur during the crash.
You can help protect the value of your truck accident settlement by:
- Seeking medical attention immediately (if you did not receive treatment at the scene)
- Following your doctor’s orders and showing up for future medical appoints
- Avoiding activities that could worsen your injury or call the severity of your injury into question
- Not posting about your accident or injuries on social media or discussing them with anyone other than your doctors and legal counsel
- Refusing to give a recorded statement
- Refusing to accept the first (often low) settlement offer
Another way you may be able to improve your chances of an advantageous case resolution is by securing legal representation. Working with a truck accident attorney with our firm can signal to the trucking company that you mean business. It also puts a team with 30 years of legal experience behind your settlement negotiations.
Ohio Laws That May Affect the Value of Your Truck Accident Claim
If you are thinking of taking legal action for your injuries, keep in mind that there is generally a two-year statute of limitations for filing a personal injury lawsuit in Ohio, per Ohio Revised Code Section 2305.10. Failure to take legal action within the deadline that applies to your case could result in the court dismissing your lawsuit. It may also lead to the insurance company offering you a reduced or denied settlement.
By starting your case as soon as possible, you can:
- Avoid running out of time to take legal action
- Increase the chances of finding important evidence (some evidence, like video footage, may get deleted if you wait too long)
- Allow more time to build the strongest possible case
Contributory Fault
Another factor that could affect the value of a truck accident settlement is contributory fault. Per Ohio Revised Code Section 2315.33, if a victim shares a portion of fault for an accident, they may still be able to recover compensation for their damages. However, compensation may be reduced by their percentage of responsibility.
This rule may sound intimidating, but a lawyer from our firm can help you understand and navigate such potential obstacles. We will work hard to gather evidence and establish another party is liable for your accident and injuries. In addition, we will advocate for your rights and stand up to allegations of negligence or wrongdoing on your part.
Do You Need Legal Assistance with Your Truck Accident Case?
Securing a settlement for your truck accident damages requires that you:
- Prove that the at-fault party owed you a duty of care
- Establish a link between the at-fault party’s failure to fulfill their duty of care and the accident
- Show you suffered economic or non-economic damages
- Provide proof of the extent and severity of your losses or injuries
- Ensure you follow all relevant legal, administrative, and insurance requirements before filing
Building a case and fighting for a fair financial recovery is a lot to ask of someone still recovering from a truck accident. We can help you satisfy all the above requirements and fight for a fair settlement by:
- Providing you with a free, no-obligation consultation over the phone
- Explaining all your legal options and helping you make the best possible decisions for yourself and your family
- Collecting crucial evidence related to both the liable party’s culpability and the damages you suffered as a result
- Managing all written and oral communication with the liable party, their representatives, and the courts
- Fielding all settlement offers from the liable party’s insurance company and negotiating for the amount you need
- Advocating for you in court if the insurance company refuses to offer an appropriate pretrial settlement
- Taking the time to answer whatever questions you have about your case or the legal process in general
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Call The Fitch Law Firm LLC Today
If you or your loved one sustained injuries in a truck accident caused by someone else’s negligence, The Fitch Law Firm LLC can help you determine how much your case is worth and what you can recover through a settlement.
For a free consultation, contact The Fitch Law Firm LLC today and connect with an Ohio personal injury lawyer near you. We represent our clients on a contingency basis, meaning we do not collect attorney fees unless and until we recover the compensation you need and deserve.