Settling a Truck Accident Case in Florida
Car crashes involving large trucks are often complex and may result in severe injuries due to the size and speed of these vehicles and their inability to stop quickly. While any person injured as a result should be able to sue for the damages they suffer, trucking companies often have the resources to hire a team of defense attorneys with the goal of preventing payouts to accident victims.
If you are injured in a truck crash and need help settling a truck accident case in West Palm Beach, contacting a truck wreck attorney as soon as possible may be in your best interests. Skilled legal counsel can help protect you from trucking companies and their teams of lawyers, whereas trying to handle your case on your own may make you vulnerable to manipulation and, ultimately, a low settlement.
What Qualifies as Damages?
Damages are the harms that an injured person experiences as a direct result of their injuries. To qualify as a compensable loss, the injured person must show that the harm they suffered was caused directly by the truck accident and not by some other event. Damages can take two forms: economic damages, and non-economic damages.
Economic Damages
The former group of damages are those that impact the injured person’s economic status. Though there can be substantial debate between the parties over whether these are the responsibility of the at-fault truck driver, these damages usually come with a substantial—and objectively valued—bill attached. For example, medical expenses and lost wages qualify as economic damages for which an injured person should be reimbursed.
Non-Economic Damages
The other category concerns damages that do not affect a person’s financial status directly. Examples of possible non-economic losses include the pain and suffering endured by the injured person, as well as any loss of consortium or loss of enjoyment of life. While they do not come with a quantitative price tag, they are still harms caused by the at-fault driver and could be factored into a settlement demand.
Injured and Have Questions?
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Important Information to Have When Negotiating a Settlement
Trucking companies, drivers’ insurance companies, and legal defense teams hired by trucking companies are all tasked with opposing injured people who file suits after truck wrecks, with the goal of reaching the lowest possible settlement and minimizing financial loss for their employers. When heading to the negotiation table, it is vital an injured person has information that backs up their claim, including:
- Eyewitness testimony
- Medical records
- Copies of the truck driver’s insurance policy
- Police reports
- Photos or videos of the accident scene
The opposing side may seek to attribute negligence or blame for the crash to the injured person, but strong evidence can back up the injured person’s claim. Of course, it often also helps to seek the services of a skilled lawyer who has experience settling truck accident cases in West Palm Beach, as well as gathering evidence to support them.
Have an Attorney Present When Settling a Truck Accident Claim in West Palm Beach
The list of requirements and regulations about negotiation found in Florida Statutes §45.061 are complicated, and learning to navigate those rules may be difficult for a person recovering from a severe injury. If you are injured in a truck accident, let a qualified attorney help you with settling your truck accident case in West Palm Beach for a value that meets your needs.
