When Should You Accept a Settlement After a Truck Accident?
An accident with a commercial vehicle or any type of large truck can cause devastating injuries. Injuries in truck accidents are often suffered by occupants in other vehicles, with over 86,000 injuries occurring in 2023. If you have been involved in a truck accident, you may be seeking relief for your medical bills, lost wages, and car repairs. If you lost your spouse due to a truck accident, you may pursue a wrongful death claim.
Before you file a claim, it is important that you understand your rights. Keep reading to learn what types of damages you may be entitled to and when you should accept a settlement, as explained by our Nashville truck accident attorneys.
Dangers Posed by Large Trucks
A fully loaded tractor-trailer truck can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. Tennessee law sets a maximum height of 13 feet 6 inches and width of 8 feet 6 inches for every commercial vehicle operating on state and federal highways. In contrast, the average passenger vehicle weighs between 3,500 to 4,200 pounds. Given the substantial size difference, a collision with a “big rig” can result in devastating injuries to car occupants, some of which include traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and abdominal bleeding.
Damages Awarded in a Truck Accident Case
If you have been injured in a truck accident, you may be entitled to a monetary award. Known as damages, this compensation is designed to return you to your pre-accident condition. Most damages awarded in a truck accident are compensatory damages intended to compensate the victim for actual harm sustained.
Compensatory damages consist of two forms: economic and noneconomic damages. Economic damages include compensation for direct financial losses. In a truck accident case, these may include:
- Lost wages
- Loss of future earnings
- Past and future medical expenses
- Vehicle repairs or replacement
- Home modifications
- Burial and funeral expenses (wrongful death claim)
In contrast, intangible losses that impact an injured party’s quality of life are known as noneconomic damages. While these damages do not encompass financial loss, our Nashville truck accident attorneys can determine the compensation that may be entitled to you for your physical injuries and emotional suffering.
Noneconomic damages in a truck accident case may include:
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Infliction of emotional distress
- Loss of companionship and society
- Permanent disability
- Grief and sorrow (wrongful death claim)
Accepting a Settlement
In personal injury cases, it is generally recommended that you do not accept a settlement until you have reached maximum medical improvement (MMI). MMI is determined by your treating physician, but it is the point at which you are no longer expected to make any further meaningful recovery, even with ongoing treatment. Until you have reached MMI, it is hard to establish future lost wages or future medical expenses. If you accept a settlement before reaching MMI, you risk accepting a settlement that is worth far too little.
Our legal team has seen the extent of injuries that can be caused by “big rigs” and the toll that can take on a family. We are well aware that commercial carriers have “deep pockets,” allowing you to recover adequate compensation for your hardship. When you hire our Nashville truck accident attorneys, you retain counsel, which will advise you accordingly to help you recover the most compensation for your claim.
Unsure When to Settle? Speak with Our Nashville Truck Accident Attorneys Today
If you have had the misfortune of being hit by a commercial vehicle, our Nashville truck accident attorneys are here to assist you. We know the severity of tractor-trailer crash injuries, and we are prepared to keep fighting for you until we obtain compensation for every single accident-related loss you have endured. We will guide you through the entire claims process and advise you on when we recommend you accept a settlement. To learn more or schedule your free consultation, contact our office online or give us a call today.