What Is the Average Settlement for Semi-Truck Accidents?

After suffering the trauma of a semi-truck accident and then facing the extensive physical and financial costs stemming from that accident, it makes sense that victims want to know the amount of their potential compensation. Given the many variables in semi-truck accident cases, it is challenging to estimate the average settlement for a semi–truck accident.

Making a general prediction about compensation or presenting an average amount could be misleading. However, if you reach out to the Texas Law Dog, we will provide a free case review, and an experienced Texas semi–truck accident lawyer may be able to give you a sense of where you stand with your specific case. What we can predict is that your attorney will fight for the most substantial settlement available.

Estimating Semi Truck Accident Settlements in Texas

Victims injured in a semi-truck accident may have grounds to collect compensation from the party who caused the accident. That compensation is called a settlement when it is secured through negotiations–usually with the at-fault party’s insurance company. A fair settlement covers the economic and non-economic damages victims experience from the accident.

Economic Damages

Economic damages have an actual dollar value. Your experienced Texas semi–truck accident attorney will analyze these financial losses thoroughly, and demand a settlement that accounts for:

Medical bills
Continuing medical costs–your attorney will consult with your doctors and other medical experts regarding your prognosis and anticipated needs
The costs for repair or to cover the value of property damaged or lost in the accident
Wages lost while recovery
Future income and job-benefits if you can not go back to work
Additional accident-caused expenses

Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages do not come with a set dollar amount, but hold significant value. Your attorney will assess these emotional and quality-of- life losses with compassion and insight, and demand acknowledgement of your:

Pain, disability, and disfigurement
Emotional trauma
Decreased enjoyment and quality of life

When Exemplary Damages Apply

Texas Code Chapter 41 allows victims to seek exemplary damages in some accident cases. If you can prove your accident resulted from the at-fault party’s “fraud” or “malice” that party may have to pay an additional monetary penalty as punishment for their actions. Your semi-truck accident lawyer in Texas will fight for these damages as your case allows.

Every Settlement Amount Is Different

Due to the drastic differences between accidents and the unique nature of accident claims, there is no true average settlement for semi-truck accidents. Several factors affect a case’s outcome, and from case to case, the impact of each factor varies. These factors include:

The severity of your injuries
The consequences of your injuries–their long-term effects on your physical abilities, employment options, emotional state, finances, and life overall
The degree of the at-fault party’s negligence
Your contribution of fault
The strength of the evidence supporting your claim
The quality of your legal representation

Many of these factors are out of your control. However, by partnering with the Texas Law Dog, you ensure exceptional legal representation. Your Texas semi–truck accident attorney will leave no source of evidence unexplored in building your case.

The Effect of Your Role in the Accident

Texas follows a comparative fault model in determining compensation amount in personal injury cases. This model includes two conditions putting potential limits on a victim’s eligibility to file a claim and compensation amount. According to Chapter 33 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code

Only victims who are less than 51% responsible for causing the accident can file for damages
Eligible victims who still hold some fault will have their total compensation amount reduced by their percentage of fault

The at-fault party will work to put culpability for the accident on you either to deny your eligibility to pursue a claim or to lower their payout. A skilled lawyer will fight to protect you from unjust blame, and your settlement from a subsequent decrease. Working to get you the maximum settlement amount possible is what a truck accident lawyer does.

How the Texas Law Dog Will Work to Maximize Your Settlement Amount

Some victims ask when to consult a lawyer for a truck accident, and the answer is–as soon as possible following your accident. With a fast partnership, your semi-truck accident attorney in Texas can undertake a post-accident investigation immediately. This immediacy raises the effectiveness of the investigation and evidence it produces as:

Witnesses are easier to find and their memories of the accident are fresher
Traffic or security camera footage is more likely to be intact and available
Your attorney can send evidence preservation letters to protect evidence from the truck’s Event Data Recorder (EDR)
Physical evidence is less likely to be lost–accidentally or intentionally

The investigation will reveal the cause of the accident and identify the negligent party, allowing your attorney to file your accident claim with the court.

Though your case may settle through negotiations, filing an official claim is still a critical step as it ensures you have the chance to fight in court should negotiations fail. In Texas, you have two years under Chapter 16 of the Civil Practice and Remedies Code to file most personal injury claims, but it is best to connect with an attorney much sooner should any exceptions reduce that legal deadline.

Settling Through Negotiation

The Texas Law Dog is known for both its bark and its bite. Our attorneys are fierce negotiators. We are not intimidated or surprised by tactics often employed by insurance companies trying to escape their financial responsibility to you.

We approach every negotiating session with confidence, armed with solid evidence, experience, and exhaustive knowledge of Texas law. Your attorney knows what your case is worth and will fight to hold the at-fault party accountable for every dollar they owe. Throughout the negotiating process, your attorney will keep you informed and offer trustworthy guidance.

Securing a Trial Verdict

Sometimes, the other side is unwilling to cooperate, intentionally slowing down negotiations or refusing to make acceptable offers. If this happens, your attorney will explain the pros and cons of settling or going to trial. If you go to court, our skilled trial attorneys will fight for the highest trial award available.

Our Goal Is Securing a Maximum Settlement

While factors and settlement amounts differ from case to case, there is a commonality shared by every Texas Law Dog Client.

We put our energy, experience, knowledge, and resources into each individual case to reach our goal of securing the maximum settlement amount. We look forward to partnering with you.