Semi-trucks can weigh as much as 30 times more than the average vehicle. The weight, combined with an increased braking distance, creates a recipe for disaster. Motorists in passenger cars have a disadvantage and often suffer the brunt of the damage when the two have a collision.
If you lost a loved one or were injured in an accident with a semi-truck, Cory Watson Attorneys might be able to help you receive the compensation you deserve.
Determining What Your Jefferson County Case is Worth
Truck accidents can have a devastating effect. There is no simple way to ascertain an exact dollar figure for your claim until we can complete an investigation. To compile a comprehensive report of your claim, we will look at your medical expenses, the damage to your vehicle, the accident report, and many other factors.
Once we know your accident's facts, we can add the damages and assign a monetary figure. Money does not fix everything but allowing you the financial stability to cope with the expenses of a serious accident is a bonus.
What Damages Are Recoverable?
Recoverable damages are also called compensatory damages. They compensate a person for damages due to an accident or personal injury. There are two types of recoverable damages in most injury claims – economic and non-economic damages.
Some recoverable damages are straightforward, while others may be more difficult to attach a monetary value to.
Economic Damages
Economic damages are easy to document. These represent monetary expenditures directly attributable to your injury or property damages due to the accident. Examples of economic damages include:
- Property damages, including the cost of repairing or replacing your vehicle.
- Medical expenses for hospitalization, surgery, medical equipment, follow-up care, physical therapy, medications, and any costs related to your injury and current or future medical needs.
- Lost wages and disability due to the accident and resultant injury. Any wages lost or an inability to work at your job, including future wages and benefits.
Our Bessemer truck accident lawyer will collect and organize all documentation to account for any expense directly related to your accident. If you spent money, lost money, or owed money for a bill that you would not have without the accident, those expenses would be considered economic damages and are recoverable.
Non-Economic Damages
Damages that don't have a monetary value are considered non-economic damages. These include damages for pain and suffering, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment, and things that didn't come with a bill. The range can be broader than for economic damages.
In Alabama, there is no cap or upper limit on non-economic damages for truck accidents. This means that you may seek as much compensation as you feel is fair. You may not receive it, but you can request any amount.
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages are in addition to recoverable damages. They are awarded as a punishment for extreme malice, intentional negligence, or when a jury feels the defendant acted egregiously.
In a truck accident, if the driver or trucking company is found to have acted maliciously or intentionally, punitive damages may be awarded. There is a maximum award amount in Alabama set at $1.5 million.
Wrongful Death
Please accept our condolences for your loss if you lost a some of your losses final expenses.
How Our Lawyers Can Help with Your Claim
When you have injuries from a truck accident, your healing may take longer. While you are concentrating on recovering from your injuries, our Bessemer truck accident lawyer can be busy working on a claim to recover your losses. Our attorneys do the legwork, allowing you to concentrate on your physical and emotional recovery.
How We Build Your Claim
At Cory Watson Attorneys, our lawyers will build your claim using various information. Our experience in handling personal injury and vehicle accident claims aids you every step of the way from your initial consultation to the courtroom.
Among the tasks our team will perform are:
- Document all injury-related expenses
- Determine and document lost wages
- Compile supporting documentation for all losses
- File all necessary paperwork regarding your claim
- Handle all negotiations with insurance companies
- Handle communications with defendants’ attorneys
- Gather evidence to support your claim
- Interview witnesses
- Keep your entire claim file organized, maintaining a proper paper trail
- Negotiate for a settlement or represent you at trial if necessary
Every accident is unique. We will do everything possible to support your claim. This may include hiring independent investigators, accident reconstruction specialists, and expert witnesses to add to your claim.
Liable Parties in a Bessemer Truck Accident
In a regular vehicle accident, there usually are only two parties involved. In a truck accident, liability is not as easy to determine. In many cases, the driver may be the only one at fault, but in some instances, liability may also include:
- The dockworkers that loaded the cargo
- The maintenance crew that serviced or inspected the truck
- The trucking company
If you are filing your claim, you may miss a liable party. Having our Bessemer truck accident attorney working on your claim may benefit you. With their experience, our accident attorney knows all the potentially responsible parties.
If you have a viable claim, our attorneys will seek all liable parties to recover as much as possible on your claim.
Causes of Truck Accidents Make a Difference
Driver error accounts for up to 87 percent of all truck accidents. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) maintains statistics that cite some of the leading causes as:
- Driving while using alcohol or drugs
- Speeding
- Driving fatigued
- Inattention to traffic patterns
- Operating the truck in a dangerous manner
When determining fault and negligence in a truck accident, any contributing factors can make a difference.
Claim Filing Deadlines
The statute of limitations for truck accident victims is usually two years (AL Code § 6-2-38). The clock starts at the time of your accident. This deadline may receive an extension in some limited instances, but it is best to file a claim before the two-year limit.
If you have a truck accident lawyer working on your claim, they will ensure that all filing is completed on time.
Get Started with a Complimentary Consultation
Whether you are ready to hire a law firm or have questions about the claims process, a complimentary consultation with Cory Watson Attorneys can answer your questions. Connect with our Bessemer truck accident lawyer to find out what you need to know.