Semi-trucks and other commercial vehicles can cause some serious damage when they collide with a passenger vehicle. In addition to the property damage sustained by the passenger vehicle, drivers and passengers in the passenger vehicle may suffer devastating injuries. Truck accident injuries may require months of recovery and time off from work. Filing a lawsuit against the truck driver, trucking company, and other parties responsible for your accident may be the best way to recover damages after your crash.
What damages can I recover?
If you have been injured in a Texas truck accident, you may be entitled to both economic and non-economic damages.
Some examples of economic damages include:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Loss of earning capacity
- Property damage
Some examples of non-economic damages include:
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
How are damages determined?
Calculating economic damages is a fairly straightforward process, as these damages are based on the expenses incurred according to various invoices and bills.
Non-economic damages on the other hand, are less tangible and more difficult to calculate. One common way to determine pain and suffering is to use the ‘multiplier method.’ Generally, the actual damages suffered by the victim will be multiplied by a multiplier, typically ranging from 1.5 to 5, to determine the amount of pain and suffering.
The multiplier will generally be smaller (1 or 2) for minor accidents and larger (5 or more) for more serious accidents. The multiplier used in a trucking accident case may even be as high as 6 or 7. The seriousness of your injuries, documented proof of pain and suffering, the time needed to recover, and the fault of the other driver will all play a role in determining the multiplier to be used.
To get a realistic picture of what you can expect to recover after your truck accident, you may consider discussing your claim with a personal injury attorney in your area.
