The value of your Nashville, Tennessee truck accident lawsuit depends on many factors, including the severity of your injuries, the cost of your medical treatment, how much income you’ve lost, the extent of your pain and suffering, and who can be held liable. That said, truck accident claims tend to be worth more than standard car accident cases because the injuries are often more severe and multiple parties with large insurance policies may be involved.
What Factors Influence the Value of a Truck Accident Lawsuit in Tennessee?
Since every truck accident case has a unique set of facts and circumstances, each has a unique value as well. Some of the most important factors to consider include:
- The severity and permanence of your injuries
- The total cost of your medical care, including future treatment
- How much income you’ve lost and whether your ability to earn a living has been affected going forward
- The nature of your physical pain and emotional suffering
- Whether you share any of the fault for the accident
- The strength of the evidence linking the defendant’s negligence to your injuries
- The insurance policy limits that apply to the liable parties
- Whether the trucking company violated federal safety regulations
Truck accident cases often involve commercial insurance policies worth $1 million or more, which means the potential recovery can be significantly higher than in a typical car crash. Cases involving catastrophic injuries tend to produce the largest recoveries, though other factors can sometimes outweigh that consideration.
What Types of Damages Can I Recover in a Truck Accident Case?
Tennessee law allows truck accident victims to pursue both economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages cover financial losses like:
- Medical bills and anticipated future treatment
- Lost wages
- Diminished earning capacity
- Property damage
- Out-of-pocket expenses
Non-economic damages address the personal impact of the accident, such as:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Mental anguish
- Loss of quality of life
- Scarring and disfigurement
Punitive damages may also be available in rare cases where the defendant’s conduct was especially wrongful. However, punitive damages are generally only awarded in cases that go all the way to trial.
How Does Shared Fault Affect My Tennessee Truck Accident Case?
Tennessee follows a modified comparative negligence standard with a 50% bar. You can still recover compensation as long as your share of fault is less than 50%. However, your total damages will be reduced by your assigned percentage of responsibility.
The trucking company’s insurer will almost certainly try to shift some of the blame onto you to protect its profits. An experienced truck accident attorney can help you push back against those efforts and protect your ability to recover maximum compensation.
Contact a Tennessee Truck Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation
Truck accident lawsuits in Tennessee can be worth substantial amounts of money, but these cases usually require going up against at least one powerful corporation. If you were injured in a truck accident, reaching out to a qualified personal injury attorney for a free consultation is the best way to take action and find out what your case may be worth.
Call Woodard Injury Law today to get started with your case by calling (615) 314-4626 or by messaging us online. We’ll do everything we can to maximize the value of your claim if you hire us to represent you.