A truck accident can lead to serious injuries and losses. Victims of truck accidents may experience massive (and mounting) medical bills, high vehicle repair costs and a sharp loss of income due to their inability to work.
Filing a truck accident claim and asking for fair compensation is really the only way for victims to recover financially. Understanding the types of compensation available can help victims recover the maximum compensation for their losses. Here is what you should know:
Recovering economic and non-economic damages
There are two common types of damages victims can recover from a successful auto accident claim: economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages include any countable or “actual” financial losses. An actual financial loss from a truck accident, for example, would include the victim’s medical bills associated with the crash. Victims may have bills for hospital stays, medical equipment, medication, surgery and future medical expenses. Property damage to a vehicle may also be considered an economic damage. In cases where a victim didn’t survive, their survivors may also recover economic damages for the victim’s burial or cremation costs.
Non-economic damages are intangible losses that are harder to put a dollar amount on. These losses may affect a victim’s well-being, such as causing depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, constant pain and a loss of enjoyment of life. These damages are often a big part of a claim, but exactly how they are calculated can also be a big source of dispute between the parties.
Holding liable parties responsible
Knowing what damages a victim can recover is often only half the battle. The other half is knowing who caused an accident and proving it in court. In a truck accident, there may be more than one liable party — and it can be difficult to make everyone liable pay their fair share. That’s why it can be so critical to seek experienced legal guidance from the start.