Truck accident settlements are monetary awards that are granted to individuals who sustain severe injuries as a result of truck crashes caused by negligence and/or recklessness. While the number of truck crash settlements will vary according to the nature and severity of the incident (as well as the injuries sustained), in most cases, these awards will include compensation for a victim’s medical bills, permanent disabilities, lost wages, property damage, and pain and suffering.
Those who have survived a truck collision, as well as families of those who have lost loved ones in a trucking accident, should consult with one of our highly qualified accident lawyers to find out if they qualify to seek a settlement for their injuries.
Truck Accident Settlements Reached by Experienced Lawyers
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Examples of past injury settlements granted to truck accident victims include:
- $7 million in July 2018 to a victim whose mother died in the accident when a truck driver, with serious medical issues, blacked out at the wheel
- $20.2 million in March 2018 to families of three teens who were killed in a truck crash caused by driver fatigue and negligence
- $19.2 million in October 2017 to the family of a young man who died in a truck accident when a tractor-trailer rear-ended his car, pushing it into the path of an oncoming cement truck
- $2.36 million in August 2016 to a family who lost their father and daughter when unsafely pulled out in front of their car and caused a multi-vehicle crash
- $1 million in October 2014 to a family whose 13-year old son died when an unoccupied vehicle that was improperly parked rolled over him
- $750,000 in December 2016 to a man who sustained mild head injuries when a tractor-trailer rig hydroplaned and caused a massive collision
Basis of Semi Truck Accident Settlements
Also referred to as tractor trailers, big rigs, and 18-wheelers, semi-trucks are large motor vehicles that, according to the Department of Transportation (DOT), are by law allowed to be no higher than 13.5 feet and no heavier than 80,000 lbs (gross). While a number of factors can contribute to or worsen a trucking accident, victims will have a legal claim if any of the following occurred:
- Driver fatigue
- Driver inattention or carelessness
- Driver inexperience or lack of training
- Failure to obey traffic laws, by speeding, running red lights, or failing to use indicators
- Improperly loaded cargo or poorly attached trailers
- Mechanical failures or malfunctions, such as tire blowouts, fuel tank errors, or steering problems
Truck Accident Litigation
Truck accident litigation refers to personal injury lawsuits in which victims of truck crashes seek compensation for their medical bills, permanent disabilities, property damage, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Victims will likely have an accident case and be entitled to a settlement when another party – including other drivers, a trucking company, or a vehicle parts manufacturer – contributes to or worsens a trucking accident.
If you or someone you care about has been injured or killed in a serious truck accident and you would like more information about truck accident litigation, contact our accident lawyers today.
Valid Truck Accident Litigation Claims
Injured victims will most likely qualify to recover compensation if they’re accident involves one of the following:
- Driver fatigue, distraction, inexperience and intoxication
- Careless and/or reckless driving, including failure to obey traffic laws, speeding, running red lights and unsafely changing lanes
- Improperly loaded cargo or poorly hitched trailers
- Poor signage, lighting and road conditions
- Vehicle part defects, malfunctions or failure, can affect any part of the car – from the gas tank and fuel system to the brake system and tires
Such factors can result in a number of severe injuries, including (not limited to):
- Bone fractures
- Burns
- Disfigurement
- Electrocution
- Injuries to the internal organs
- Internal bleeding
- Irreversible spinal injuries
- Lacerations
- Loss of limb
- Loss of vision and/or hearing
- Permanent disabilities
- Traumatic brain injury
In many cases, these truck accident injuries will require surgery, as well as long-term physical therapy and follow-up care.
How to Recover a Truck Accident Injury Settlement
Most major truck companies have their own lawyers who will fight aggressively on behalf of their drivers, even if they are at fault. Therefore, it is important to hire a personal injury attorney who has experience in handling truck accident lawsuits and will not be afraid to fight against large companies.
It is important that prospective plaintiffs hire an experienced accident attorney who is familiar with truck accident litigation. Choosing the right attorney for your case can make all the difference in the outcome of the case and the amount of compensation you recover. Contact our truck accident lawyers and schedule a free evaluation of your case.