Each Texas truck accident case is different. Because of this, settlements can vary greatly. There is no average number to expect for a Texas truck accident claim. However, a lawyer can calculate your losses and demand a fair settlement that covers their full value.
What Factors Might Affect My Truck Accident Settlement?
Several factors can affect the amount you are owed in a truck accident settlement, including:
- The severity of your injuries
- The type of medical treatment you require
- The amount of time you miss at work
- How many at-fault parties are involved
- Whether you are partially responsible for the crash
- The strength of evidence in your case
- The trucking company’s desire to avoid a trial
- Your lawyer’s skill and experience levels
A Texas truck accident lawyer can review these factors with you and explain how they can affect your specific case.
What Injuries Occur Most Often in Trucking Accidents?
Texas truck accidents are notorious for causing severe, life-altering injuries, such as:
- Head and brain injuries, including traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
- Broken and fractured bones
- Internal bleeding and organ damage
- Amputation
- Burn injuries
- Whiplash
- Soft tissue injuries
The severity of your injuries can greatly affect how much you recover in a truck accident settlement. More serious injuries often require extensive medical treatments, more time off work to recover, long-term care, severe pain and suffering, and a greater impact on your life. This all means that the more severe your truck accident injuries are, the larger the settlement you may be entitled to.
Who Can Be At Fault in a Trucking Accident?
Your lawyer will investigate your case and help determine if any of the following parties are responsible for compensating you for your losses:
- The truck driver
- The trucking company
- The maintenance company
- Truck or parts manufacturers
- Cargo loaders
The parties at fault for your collision can have a major impact on your settlement. The liable parties will determine the available insurance policy limits. Having multiple at-fault parties can also allow you to maximize the amount you receive from any settlements. Determining all parties responsible for your injuries is essential to pursuing the compensation you need.
How Do You Determine Who Was At Fault for the Accident?
Your attorney will use evidence such as the following to identify any parties responsible for your semi-truck accident:
- Black box data
- Police reports
- The trucker’s logs
- Alcohol and drug testing results
- Dashcam footage
- Maintenance and repair records
- Traffic and surveillance cameras
- Photos and videos of the crash scene
- Eyewitness testimonies
- Expert witness testimonies
Having strong evidence to support that the at-fault party is the one responsible for your injuries and losses can incentivize them to provide a fair settlement amount.
What If I Am Partly to Blame for the Accident?
Under Texas law, you can still pursue compensation even if you are partly at fault for a truck wreck. However, your responsibility can affect your settlement amount. If you are found partly to blame for the collision, your compensation will be reduced by your amount of fault. For example, if you are 25 percent responsible for the accident, your compensation will be reduced by 25 percent. And if you are found more than 50 percent at fault, you lose your right to compensation entirely.
This rule makes a commercial truck accident lawyer especially essential for your claim. They can work to secure evidence and argue your lack of fault to protect the full compensation you are owed.
What Compensation Can I Receive for My Injuries and Damages?
The types of expenses and losses you have suffered will also directly affect your settlement amount. You may be entitled to compensation to cover your:
- Medical expenses
- Lost income
- Reduced future income
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Property damage
A skilled Texas truck accident lawyer can document your losses, calculate their value, and ensure you pursue their full amount in a settlement.
Does Texas Have a Statute of Limitations for Filing a Truck Accident Lawsuit?
The statute of limitations on truck accident lawsuits in Texas is two years. While that may seem like plenty of time, a lot goes into building a solid case. The more time your lawyer has, the stronger your case can be – which could result in a higher settlement offer. You also want plenty of time to hold out for the fair amount you are owed. You should contact a Texas truck accident attorney as soon as possible so they can start working on your claim.
How Can a Lawyer Help My Texas Truck Accident Settlement?
With so many factors that can impact a truck accident settlement, there are also a lot of things that can go wrong. You should be able to focus on recovering from your injuries, not managing a personal injury claim. An experienced truck accident attorney can be there for you through every step of the process, including:
- Performing an in-depth investigation into the collision
- Identifying all at-fault parties
- Documenting your injuries and expenses
- Collecting evidence to prove the liable party’s fault
- Calculating the total value of your losses
- Consulting expert witnesses
- Managing communication with any insurance and trucking companies
- Filing any necessary claims or lawsuits on time
- Taking your case to trial if they refuse to offer a fair settlement
You don’t have to handle your truck accident claim on your own. Let the team at The Wilhite Law Firm help make sure you don’t settle for less than you are owed.
Contact a Texas Truck Accident Lawyer
The damages from a Texas truck accident can add up quickly. You deserve a financial recovery that will help you get things back to normal. The Texas semi-truck accident attorneys at The Wilhite Law Firm can help you demand it. Contact us today for a free consultation to get started.
