Your economic and non-economic losses determine the bulk of the value of your big truck accident case in Florida. Within each of those categories, there are a number of factors that influence your case’s worth, such as your medical bills and emotional pain and suffering.
Before filing a claim with the liable party’s insurance company, you must take stock of your losses. If you don’t, the insurance company can take advantage of you because you are unaware of the true amount of damages you deserve. We break down some of the common factors that determine the value of your semi-truck accident case in Florida below.
Economic Losses Caused By Your Truck Accident
Your combined economic and non-economic losses determine the value of your truck accident case since the liable party is responsible for compensating you for your accident-related losses and expenses.
Economic losses simply refer to losses that cost you money. Because they cost you money, they have a direct financial value. Potential economic damages resulting from a big rig accident include:
- Present and future medical expenses
- Lost wages or income from missing work
- Diminished earning capacity
- Vehicle repair or replacement Transportation costs
In many cases, your financial losses will make up the greatest portion of your total damages, so you should make sure they are properly accounted for. A commercial truck accident lawyer can assist with this process.
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Non-Economic Damages Resulting From The Big Rig Accident
The term non-economic damages refers to the losses you suffered that do not cost you money but instead affect your body, mental or emotional state, relationships, and life in general. Second-degree burns from a truck accident are one example. They can cause severe pain as well as scars and disfigurement, among other long-term effects. Non-economic losses include:
- Serious bodily injuries (burns, brain injury, back injury, broken bones, etc.)
- Permanent loss of mobility or independence
- Scars or disfigurement
- Inability to sleep or eat
- Emotional distress
- Damaged reputation
- Lost quality of life
Since there is no direct monetary value in these losses, your truck accident attorney must assign one. There is no financial value for second-degree burns. The impact on a person’s life is subjective; therefore, attorneys use other factors to determine their value after a big truck accident. We discuss those below.
Age And Life Expectancy
Since your pain and suffering is not tied directly to the money you’ve lost, attorneys and insurance companies use other methods to determine their value in your case. Your age is a factor. Florida truck accident lawyers may consider how old you are and the impact the accdent is likely to have on a person your age.
A 17-year-old paralyzed in a truck crash loses the ability to walk for the rest of his or her life. This may be viewed differently than a 55-year-old who suffered the same injury, purely because a 17-year-old victim will likely have to contend with their injuries for longer.
Severity Of Your Injuries
Generally, the more severe the injuries, the more they are worth to your case. For obvious reasons, someone who has suffered an arm amputation will probably experience more severe and lifelong pain and mental anguish than someone who has a broken arm.
Extent Of Recovery
The value of your big truck accident claim also hinges on the extent of your recovery or the likelihood of it. Information from your medical records and doctor’s reports will help to determine how much you are likely to recover before you reach maximum medical improvement. A case where the victim makes a full recovery may not garner the same amount of compensation as someone who is going to have a permanent disability.
Impact On Your Life
Accident lawyers will also consider the impact the big truck accident has on your quality of life, i.e. your overall well-being, happiness, and satisfaction. Serious injuries can affect your ability to care for yourself and perform tasks independently. You may be physically in pain or mentally suffering even after recovery due to what you’ve lost, including relationships, job opportunities, or activities you used to enjoy.
Call The Law Offices Of Anidjar & Levine For A Free Case Evaluation
While your financial losses are simple to calculate and play a big role in figuring out what your case is worth, there are other things to consider. Pain and suffering due to the crash can greatly increase the amount of compensation you receive. Yet, it is complicated to quantify. Lawyers have ways to calculate this amount using industry methods, the opinions of relevant experts, and the factors discussed above.
If you want to know what your truck accident in Florida may be worth, contact the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine today for a free consultation.
