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Been hit by an 18-wheeler? It’s time to learn how much you should really get.

When you’re hurt in a truck accident, it’s crucial that you get the compensation you deserve. It’s not just about paying the bills. It’s about recovering the full measure of what you lost.

If you don’t have the right legal help, you will probably settle your claim for far less than you should.

Truck accident settlements are not like other motor vehicle crashes. These cases can involve huge payouts that can affect the rest of your life. Insurance companies know that. They will try to get you to settle for as little as possible.

You will learn:

• The Reality Behind Truck Accident Settlements
• Why General Practice Personal Injury Lawyers Don’t Cut It
• Things That Can Skyrocket Your Settlement Amount
• Mistakes that Will Ruin Your Case Value

The Reality Behind Truck Accident Settlements

The average truck accident settlement is $100,000 to $150,000 nationwide. But that’s just a starting point. We’re seeing many fatality cases now with settlements reaching $5 million and up.

Here’s why truck accidents are different:

Cars are not semi-trucks. When that 80,000 pound truck rams into your car, the damage is devastating. The injuries are catastrophic. The medical bills are monumental. The losses you suffer can be permanent.

Think about this for a second…

The average car weighs about 3,000 pounds. A fully loaded semi truck weighs 80,000 pounds. If you compare that to the size of your vehicle, it’s like being struck by 26 vehicles. The science tells you why these settlements are so much higher.

Why General Practice Personal Injury Lawyers Don’t Cut It

Truck accident cases are different from other injury cases. It’s a different set of regulations. A different set of insurance companies. A different way to gather and preserve the evidence.

A skilled truck accident lawyer knows how to:

• Handle federal trucking laws and regulations
• Identify all the liable parties (driver, company, manufacturer, etc.)
• Preserve all the evidence before it’s destroyed
• Determine the full extent of your damages and losses
• Navigate large commercial insurance policies worth millions

Without that knowledge? You lose money. A lot of money.

Things That Can Skyrocket Your Settlement Amount

Not all truck accident cases are created equal. Here are some things that can increase your compensation by 10x or more.

Severity of Injuries

The more serious your injuries, the more you can recover.

Minor injuries may only get you a few tens of thousands. Life altering injuries will push it into the millions. Injuries like brain trauma, spinal cord injuries, and amputations. These can supercharge your settlement.

Multiple Liable Parties

Truck accidents involve multiple liable parties. This includes: driver, trucking company, manufacturer, cargo company, maintenance company and more.

The more parties involved. The more insurance policies. The higher the settlement.

Clear Evidence of Negligence

Driver violation hours-of-service rules? Improper truck maintenance?

Gross negligence on the part of the truck driver or company can result in punitive damages. These are meant to punish the company. They are not tied to any of your losses. And they can be huge.

Mistakes that Will Ruin Your Case Value

Let me share with you the fastest ways to diminish your settlement amount. It’s by making these mistakes.

Speaking to Insurance Companies Alone

NEVER give a recorded statement to the insurance company without a lawyer present.

Insurance adjusters are trained to get you to say things that limit their liability. One wrong statement and you can lose hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Settling Too Early

Some injuries take days, weeks, months to show up. Back pain could be a herniated disc. Headaches can be traumatic brain injury. If you settle before you know the true extent of your injuries, that will be the amount you get.

Failing to Get Adequate Medical Records

Your medical records are the basis of your claim. If you miss treatments, insurance companies will say your injuries are not that bad.

Posting on Social Media

Take down your social media accounts. Now. Insurance companies have investigators that are going to comb through your posts. Looking for anything that contradicts your injury claims.

The Actual Settlement Timeline

Most people believe that truck accident settlements are a matter of days, even weeks. Wrong.

This is the real timeline:

Month 1-3: Medical treatment and collection of evidence Month 4-6: Demand letter and negotiation Month 7-12: Settlement negotiation Year 2+: Trial preparation if necessary

The best settlements come to those who wait. Insurance companies are smart. They know the people who are desperate will settle for a low offer.

When You Should Consider Trial

Sometimes the insurance company just won’t make you a fair settlement offer. When that happens, you need to be prepared to go to trial.

Here are some signs you should strongly consider trial:

• They offer you less than 50% of your actual damages
• They’re disputing liability when it’s obvious
• Multiple insurance companies are pointing the finger

Trial verdicts in truck accident cases can be astronomical. Truck accident juries understand how these crashes happen and often award more than the insurance company is willing to pay.

Red Flags to Look For with Truck Accident Lawyers

Do not all truck accident lawyers are equal. Here are some warning signs of a bad attorney:

• Making specific settlement promises
• Wanting you to sign their contract right away
• Pressuring you to settle your claim quickly

The best attorneys are honest with you: All cases are different. It takes time for good results.

Wrapping Up

Truck accident settlements are different. The numbers we’re seeing these days. We’re talking life-changing compensation. The kind that can replace your income, pay for medical care, and take care of your family long-term.

But it’s only if you do it right.

Insurance companies have entire legal departments working full-time to get you to accept the least amount of money. You need someone just as experienced fighting for you. Someone who knows truck regulations. Someone who is not afraid to take your case to trial.

Don’t let them talk you into accepting less than you deserve. Find the right legal help.

John Mali Director of Media Relations

Director of Media Relations at AboutBoulder.com

[email protected]