The United States Department of Transportation estimates that over 500,000 truck accidents occur every year. If you’ve been harmed in an 18-wheeler accident, you could be owed substantial compensation from a settlement. These accidents are often catastrophic, resulting in serious injury and lifelong disability. As such, these settlements tend to be larger than average car accident settlements. Injured victims need substantially more compensation to handle the injuries and disabilities they now face.
You may be wondering, “What is the average settlement of a truck accident case in Arkansas?” Unfortunately, due to the increased risk and involvement of corporate trucking insurance, there is no “average” 18-wheeler accident settlement. These accidents are highly complex, and settlements are based on individual suffering and harm. Since so many factors determine the compensation you will receive, it is important to discuss your case with an experienced truck accident attorney at Rainwater, Holt & Sexton.
Commercial trucks are required by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to carry at least $750,000 in liability insurance. In addition, trucking companies usually have to purchase additional insurance to protect the company’s assets from being taken to pay a judgment debt. Typically, an 18-wheeler accident will result in a larger settlement than a car accident.
However, calculating 18-wheeler accident settlements in Arkansas is not easy. Many factors must be considered before reaching a settlement amount. After all, once you agree to a settlement, you cannot go back and request more money — even if you suddenly experience complications. As such, it is important that any settlement you agree to cover whatever life may throw your way.
When determining how much compensation you need after a serious truck accident, your lawyers will need to consider many different factors, including:
To determine the amount of compensation you deserve after a serious 18-wheeler accident, your attorney will need to investigate the accident closely. Liability must be established, and your attorney must work with medical teams and experts to accurately determine how your injuries will affect your life and future. This can take time and a considerable amount of resources.
As you may imagine, insurance companies are reluctant to pay what injured accident victims need. That is why they often offer low settlement offers quickly. Never sign anything without first speaking to a trucking accident lawyer at Rainwater, Holt & Sexton. Our attorneys can protect you and your rights to total compensation after a crash.
Before your attorney can determine the total amount of compensation or settlement you deserve, it is necessary to determine who is truly to blame for the accident. Your truck accident attorney may need to employ accident reconstruction experts to accurately determine the liable parties, examine black box data and electronic logs, and review maintenance records. After a lengthy investigation, it is not uncommon for multiple parties to share liability, including the:
It is important to find all liable parties because each party will have its insurance policy and limits. The amount of compensation you can receive may increase tremendously if the shipping company is found responsible instead of just the truck driver. Each potentially liable party is a possible source of compensation. That is why it is beneficial to investigate trucking accidents thoroughly. Your 18-wheeler accident settlement in Arkansas will increase if you can uncover all parties that share the blame..
In general, the injuries in a truck collision are typically more severe than average passenger vehicle crashes. This is because the weight of an 18-wheeler truck multiplied by the speed yields a much greater force than is found in other collisions. A passenger vehicle generally weighs 3,000 to 6,000 pounds. A loaded semi-tractor with a trailer can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. This variance is so wide that the passenger vehicle cannot withstand the force imposed by the large truck. As a result, it crumples to the point that the occupants are significantly injured, even at lower collision speeds.
Because injuries are so severe, injured trucking accident victims often require substantially more compensation. They may suffer significant pain and suffering or may be unable to work again in their chosen profession. They may even suffer permanent and lifelong disability and impairment.
A trucking accident attorney must accurately determine how those injuries will affect their future and overall quality of life before reaching a settlement in Arkansas. Calculating future expenses and costs can take time and may require that the accident victim reach maximum medical improvement.
Some of the damages that must be calculated include both non-economic and economic expenses.
These types of damages are easy to quantify and can be proven with receipts and other bill statements. They include any money you lost because of the accident, including:
These types of damages are more difficult to quantify because they are subjective in nature. They include the suffering you and your family experienced because of your trucking accident. It takes a skilled and experienced personal injury lawyer to make a strong case for non-economic damages. Some of the most common non-economic damages, include:
In some severe cases, a court may award punitive damages. These types of damages are meant to punish the negligent party for acting irresponsibly. In commercial trucking accidents, these types of damages are less common. To win these awards, your lawyer must prove that an act of gross negligence or malice occurred. For example, if the truck driver fled the trucking accident scene, you might win a punitive damage award.
While some states limit the amount of non-economic damages an accident victim can receive, Arkansas does not. There are no caps on damages in injury cases. Since each case is different, your attorney will need to investigate your accident closely to help get you the full amount you deserve.
Unfortunately, insurers will try to reduce your claim in any way they can. They may try to pin some of the blame on you, or they may say that your injuries are not as severe as you claim. These large insurance companies may delay your claims in the hopes that you will simply give up. Or they may offer you a low settlement that is just a fraction of what you truly need.
For these reasons, it is imperative that you hire an experienced trucking accident attorney at Rainwater, Holt & Sexton. Our lawyers know the tricks insurance companies use to reduce their liability, and we work tirelessly for our injured clients to combat these tactics.
Once you’ve hired our law firm, we will investigate the accident and identify all liable parties. Establishing fault is the first step towards getting you the money you need. We may use accident reconstruction experts, medical teams, and forensic analysts to build your case during this time. Identifying the responsible parties and building your case takes time, but it will enable us to file a civil lawsuit and achieve a successful result.
Truck accident cases are complicated. They can take months of negotiations and investigations, and there are often avenues to pursue compensation. While most trucking accident cases in Arkansas are settled out of court, our lawyers are skilled litigators who are not afraid to go toe-to-toe with trucking companies in court and win. However, with the right lawyer on your side, you can collect the money you need to move into the future after a serious trucking accident.
Truck Accident Resources
We know that there are many different causes of truck accidents and that every collision and personal injury is unique, and it’s our goal to sort out the facts of truck accidents and represent the people whose injuries were caused by the fault of another.
As truck accident attorneys, we have been through many tragic events as we have traveled along life’s path with our clients. The saying of “we have been there and done that” applies to us—but our truck wreck attorneys have “done that” vicariously by reconstructing collisions and seeking just compensation for our many clients in Arkansas who have been injured by the fault of another.
We are seasoned lawyers. Our big truck accident lawyers have provided representation for many people who, through no fault of their own, have been injured in accidents involving large trucks—including tractor-trailers, tanker trucks, log trucks, and construction vehicles.
With offices throughout Arkansas – Little Rock, Springdale, Conway, Hot Springs, Bryant, Jacksonville, and Jonesboro, our truck accident lawyers are easily accessible when you need help.
While there is no average settlement for a truck accident case in Arkansas, we can help you seek maximum compensation. If you were hurt in a truck accident and want the help of an experienced attorney with a proven track record, contact Rainwater, Holt & Sexton Injury Lawyers.
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