Injuries Associated with Truck Accidents
In 2020, approximately 4,000 people died in large truck accidents. 68% of those deaths were occupants of cars, while 16% were vulnerable road users such as bicyclists, pedestrians, and motorcyclists. In 2018, there were approximately 112,000 accidents that resulted in injuries and 414,000 that resulted in property damage only. And unfortunately, the outlook isn’t great for Florida drivers, as 30% of truck accidents occur in Florida, Texas, and California.
Out of the 112,000 injury accidents, people suffered injuries such as:
As is the case with severe injuries, many of these parties likely sustained more than one injury type. For example, a person may end up with multiple broken bones or some lacerations and a head injury. Unfortunately, this only puts more stress on the victim, usually resulting in a larger decrease in their quality of life.
Types of Evidence Used in Truck Accident Cases
To prove that a party has acted with negligence and caused an accident (therefore causing your injuries), we have to collect the necessary evidence. There are lots of different types of evidence that we can use in truck accident cases. It’s up to us to gather evidence and prove that the party that hit you was at fault, but there are some things you can do to help, as well.
Types of evidence include:
- Pictures and videos taken by you or witnesses
- Videos from dash cams or security cameras
- Expert witnesses, such as a medical professional or trucking specialist
- Accident reconstruction
- Police reports
- Witness statements
- Medical records and bills
- Black box data
- Scheduling documents
- Maintenance records
How Much Compensation Will I Receive for My Damages?
The amount of compensation that victims receive varies greatly and cannot be estimated until we’ve reviewed your case in full. However, there are some factors that play a large part in determining this amount, including:
- How severe your injuries are
- Whether or not you’ll need long-term medical treatment
- The amount of insurance coverage available
- How much the accident has changed your quality of life
- Whether you settle or go to trial
Further, you can expect to recover damages in the following categories:
Economic damages, such as:
- Medical bills (past and future)
- Lost wages
- Loss of earning capacity
- Home modification (for wheelchair or other medical equipment)
Non-economic damages, such as:
You may also receive further compensation in the form of punitive damages. Punitive damages are used to further punish the at-fault party, usually in cases where gross negligence has occurred. If a trucking company has continued to cause accidents for over-scheduling employees, they may be deducted further for punitive damages to dissuade them from continuing to do so in the future.