How much is your california truck accident case worth?

California truck accident settlements and verdicts

When you’ve been injured in a California truck accident, you have the right to seek compensation for your damages and losses. While it may be tempting to look at online calculators to get an idea of how much your case might be worth, these tools can be inaccurate because they don’t consider all of the factors that go into determining a settlement amount.

Below are some common factors that may affect the value of your truck accident injury claim in California.

The extent of damage to your vehicle

Obviously, any settlement award will take into consideration how much damage was done to your property. If your car was badly damaged in a truck accident, you’ll want to get an estimate for the cost of repairs.

Keep in mind that regardless of whether your vehicle was damaged or totaled in the accident, the goal of any insurance company is to make money, so they may not offer you a fair price to replace or repair your vehicle. Personal injury attorneys have extensive experience negotiating with insurance companies and can help ensure any settlement offer you accept is reasonable and fair.

The severity of your injuries

If you’ve suffered a severe or catastrophic injury, such as a traumatic brain injury (TBI), spinal cord injury or amputation from your accident, you’ll likely be entitled to more money than someone with minor injuries.

An experienced personal injury attorney can calculate how much it will cost to treat your injuries and estimate your future medical costs based on a number of different factors. These numbers can be helpful in determining how much compensation you might receive for medical-related expenses.

Lost wages

If you’re injured in a truck accident, you might end up missing some work. This, in turn, could mean lost wages. Depending on the severity of your injuries and whether or not you’re able to return to work and resume your regular duties, you could be entitled to damages for lost wages as well as any future economic losses that could result from your inability to return to work or work at full capacity. An attorney can help calculate the amount of damages you may be entitled to for lost wages.

Liable parties

If you’re involved in an accident with a commercial truck driver, it’s important to know that there may be other parties that can be held liable in addition to the driver of the truck. Other parties that may potentially hold some responsibility for the accident may include the trucking company or the truck manufacturer.

Trucking companies can be held liable for a number of reasons, including hiring an unfit driver or not providing proper training. Additionally, if the accident was caused by a defective part, the manufacturer may also be at fault. A personal injury attorney will work to identify all the liable parties so you receive maximum compensation for your accident.

Pain and suffering

In addition to the factors mentioned above, which are largely based on economic losses, you may also be entitled to non-economic damages  after a California truck accident, which are less concrete and often more difficult to estimate. These may include compensation for non-monetary losses such as:

• • Pain and suffering

• • Emotional distress

• • Loss of companionship

• Loss of enjoyment of life

It’s often difficult to put a number on factors such as emotional pain and suffering, but settlements for non-economic damages often depend on the severity of the accident and its impact on your daily life. A personal injury attorney can give you some idea of how much compensation you may be entitled to for non-economic damages based on similar cases.

What’s wrong with using an online truck accident settlement calculator?

Online claim calculators can be a convenient way for people to get a general idea of how much a personal injury claim in California might be worth. But beware of relying on them because they often get it wrong.

Most online calculators ask for a wide range of information, including income, medical bills, lost wages and other costs incurred as a result of your accident. As you enter more information, they provide a dollar amount in return. But that dollar amount is not guaranteed; it’s simply meant to give you an idea of what your case might be worth if you decide to file a suit.

Remember, an online calculator is only intended to provide a rough estimate and is in no way a substitute for a personal injury lawyer who has experience calculating and negotiating damage awards for their clients. Online claim calculators can’t take into account the particular circumstances of each case and typically can’t factor in emotional pain and suffering, so they likely won’t provide an accurate prediction of the amount of compensation an injured person should expect to receive.

When to contact a California personal injury attorney

Every personal injury case is unique, and no reputable attorney can give you an accurate idea about how much your case might be worth until they gather all the relevant information and evidence related to your case. Rest assured that most personal injury attorneys don’t charge you money unless you receive compensation, so they’re motivated to be honest with you about whether they believe they can win your case and how much it may be worth.

If you’ve been injured in an accident with a truck or any other kind of accident, the experienced personal injury attorneys at MVP Accident Attorneys are here to help. Our firm has recovered millions of dollars for our clients across the states of California and Texas, and we'd love to devise an individualized plan for you too.

Contact us today for your free, no-obligation consultation. There’s never a fee unless we win your case.