No, you should not take the first offer you get from a truck accident claim. Insurance companies are in the business of making a profit, which puts them at odds with your best interests. They may try to shortchange you, hoping that you will accept less than you deserve to settle your case quickly and move on with your life.
If you were injured or lost a family member in a truck accident caused by someone else, you may be entitled to damages for medical care, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more. If you do not have much experience with the truck accident claims process, you may not know whether to accept a claim offer or hold out for more money. A personal injury lawyer may be able to help you evaluate any offers and seek fair compensation.
How Can I Tell if an Offer From a Truck Accident Claim Is Fair?
To determine if an offer from a truck accident claim is fair, you first need to know how much your case is worth. A lawyer can help you by estimating the full value of your damages. You can then compare any offers to that estimate. Here are some of the damages you may be able to recover:
Economic Damages After a Truck Accident
Economic damages provide compensation for tangible losses directly caused by the truck accident, such as:
- Medical expenses, such as ambulance bills, emergency treatment, X-rays or other imaging services, surgery, follow-up care, occupational, physical, and speech therapy, and more
- Lost income for unpaid time off work
- Property damage for the repair or replacement of your vehicle
Non-Economic Damages After a Truck Accident
Non-economic damages compensate for your intangible losses caused by the truck accident. You may be able to recover non-economic damages if the accident caused you to:
- Lose a limb
- Become permanently disabled or dismembered
- Suffer from chronic pain
- Endure a long recovery period
- Undergo multiple surgeries or other treatments
- Develop a mental health condition
- Experience a reduced quality of life
Wrongful Death Damages After a Truck Accident
If you lost a family member in a truck accident, you may be able to recover damages for:
- Funeral and burial expenses including fees for embalming or cremation, casket, memorial service, flowers, transportation, and more
- Medical expenses for your loved one’s care before he or she passed away
- Loss of income that your loved one would have provided, including benefits, expected future income, and retirement
- Loss of support and services
- Loss of companionship and protection
- Loss of parental guidance, instruction, and companionship
How a Lawyer Can Help With Your Truck Accident Claim
Our lawyer can assist you with all legal and insurance aspects of your truck accident case, from filing a claim to filing a lawsuit, if necessary. Here are some things we can do for you:
- Investigate your truck accident: We will look for evidence of that negligence by the other driver who caused the accident.
- Estimate your damages: We will use your medical bills and records, pictures of your injuries, past wage statements, receipts for vehicle repair and replacement, and more to estimate how much your losses are worth.
- File an insurance claim: We can file a claim for you and submit supporting documents such as your medical records and bills, property damage receipts, past wage statements, and more.
- Negotiate a settlement: We will evaluate any settlement offers and negotiate a settlement that provides you with adequate compensation for your losses.
- File a lawsuit: If negotiations fail to produce a fair settlement, we will file a lawsuit on your behalf and seek compensation in court.
File Your Truck Accident Lawsuit Before the Florida Deadline
You only have a short amount of time to sue the at-fault party after a truck accident in Florida. These time limits may affect your case:
- You have four years from the date of your accident to file a lawsuit for personal injury, according to the deadline established by Florida Statutes § 95.11(3)(a)
- You have two years from the date your loved one passed away to file a lawsuit for wrongful death, according to the deadline established by Florida Statutes § 95.11(4)(d)
Our lawyer will assist you in determining how these laws apply to your case. We will ensure that you sue the at-fault driver before time runs out.
The Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine Can Help You With a Truck Accident Claim
Instead of taking the first offer you get from a truck accident claim, reach out to the team at the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine. Our lawyers will evaluate your settlement offer and help you recover the full value of your damages. Call our office today at 1-800-747-3733 for a free case consultation. We work on contingency, so we collect no fees unless we win your case.
