Getting in a truck accident is a huge headache. It can turn your life upside down. The size and weight of commercial trucks are 20 to 30 times more than a normal passenger car. This is why truck accidents result in serious injuries.
Beyond physical injury, you may be facing mounting medical bills, lost wages, and other financial burdens. Handling all these can be very overwhelming in that situation. The recovery process after a truck accident isn’t just about healing your body: it’s also about rebuilding your financial stability.
The good news is that if someone else’s negligence caused the accident, you have legal rights to seek compensation for your losses. Here, one may wonder how long settlements usually take. The answer is that it can take a few months or several years depending on the severity of the case.
Understanding the types of compensation available to you is an important step towards recovery.
When you file a claim after a truck accident, it means you are typically seeking two main types of compensation:
- Economic and
- Non-economic damages.
Let’s break down what each of these means in simple terms.
Economic Compensation
This type of compensation covers all the financial losses you can calculate with actual numbers and receipts. These are the out-of-pocket expenses that directly result from the accident.
1] Medical Expenses
This forms the largest portion of economic damages. It includes
- Emergency room visits
- Hospital stays
- Surgeries
- Physical therapy.
Keep every medical bill and receipt, as these documents prove your expenses.
2] Lost Wages
It represents the income you couldn’t earn because you were too injured to work. For example, if you missed a week of work or several months, you can seek compensation for that lost paycheck. This also includes lost earning capacity if your injuries prevent you from returning to your previous job.
3] Property Damage
It covers the repairs to your vehicle or its replacement value if it was totaled in the accident. This might also include damaged personal belongings like
- Laptops
- Phones
- Several important items in your car.
Other economic damages might include costs for household services you can no longer perform yourself, like lawn care or cleaning, transportation expenses, etc.
The good thing about economic damages is that they’re relatively straightforward to prove. You have poofs like
- Bills
- Pay stubs
- Receipts
to show exactly how much money you have lost or spent.
Non-Economic Compensation
Non-economic compensation addresses the ways the accident has affected the quality of your life. These damages don’t come with price tags, but they are just as real and often more devastating.
1] Pain and Suffering
This includes the physical discomfort you experience because of your injuries. Truck accidents often cause severe injuries like
- Broken bones
- Spinal cord damage or
- Traumatic brain injuries.
2] Emotional Distress
It covers the psychological impact of the accident. Many truck accident survivors develop
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Post-traumatic stress disorder.
You might have nightmares about the accident or struggle with the emotional weight of your injuries.
3] Loss of Enjoyment of Life
This applies when your injuries stop you from participating in activities you once loved doing. If you can no longer play your favorite sports or enjoy time with your family the way you did before, then this helps you to get compensation for this too.
Calculating Non-Economic Damages
There is no simple formula for calculating non-economic compensation. Insurance companies and courts consider factors like
- Severity of your injuries
- How long your recovery takes
- Whether you have permanent disabilities and
- How the accident has changed your daily life.
Getting Fair Compensation
Truck accident cases are often complex because multiple parties might be responsible for it. This may include
- The truck driver.
- The trucking company.
- Vehicle manufacturers.
These cases also typically involve much higher compensation than regular car accidents because trucks cause more severe damage.
Key Takeaways
- Economic compensation covers all the financial losses you can calculate with actual numbers.
- Non-economic compensations address the ways the accident has affected your life.
- To get fair compensation, you will need to document everything thoroughly.
- Understanding these two types of compensation helps you recognize the full value of your claim.
Also Read – Types of Damages and How to Calculate Compensation in a Personal Injury Claim
